w 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


MARY  AND  MARTHA 

THE  MOTHER  AND  THE  WIFE 

OF 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON 


BY 
BENSON  J.  LOSSING,  LL.D. 

AUTHOR  OF 

"FIELD-BOOK  OF  THE  REVOLUTION"  "FIELD-BOOK  OF  THE  WAR  OF  1812' 
"  CYCLOPAEDIA  OF  UNITED  STATES  HISTORY  "  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 

BY  FAC-SIMILES  OF  PEN-AND-INK  DRAWINGS 
BY  H.  ROSA 


NEW    YORK 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  FRANKLIN   SQUARE 
1886 


Copyright,  1886,  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS. 


All  rights  reserved. 


TO 


MY   YOUNG   COUNTRYWOMEN 

THIS    BRIEF    SKETCH    OF   THE   LIVES    OF    TWO    OF   THE   MOST 
ILLUSTRIOUS    EXEMPLARS    OF   TRUE   WOMANHOOD 

$5  SDe&icateb 

BY  THE  AUTHOR 


INTRODUCTION. 


So  quiet,  so  unostentatious,  so  eminently  domestic  were 
the  lives  of  the  mother  and  the  wife  of  George  Washing 
ton  that  the  biographer  and  the  historian  have  rarely  men 
tioned  theirs  as  distinct  from  their  relations  as  mother  and 
wife  of  that  illustrious  man.  For  a  faithful  portraiture  of 
the  character  and  deeds  of  either  of  these  notable  women, 
the  sum  of  trustworthy  materials  to  be  found  in  memoirs, 
annals,  or  records,  is  very  meagre.  And  yet  the  lives  of 
these  two  women  were  indissolubly  associated  with  the 
earthly  destiny  of  one  of  the  grandest  characters  in  the 
world's  history :  one  as  his  maternal  guide  in  his  childhood 
and  youth,  and  the  other  as  his  conjugal  companion  and 
counsellor  in  his  manhood  and  exalted  career. 

From  1848  until  late  in  1860,  I  was  a  frequent  visitor  at 
Arlington  House,  in  Virginia,  the  pleasant  seat  of  the  late 
George  Washington  Parke  Custis.  It  is  situated  upon  high 
ground  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Potomac  River,  overlook 
ing  the  cities  of  Washington  and  Georgetown.  Mr.  Custis 
was  a  grandson  of  Martha  Washington,  and  one  of  the  two 
foster-children  of  her  husband.  He  died  in  1857,  leaving 
his  estate  to  his  only  child,  Mrs.  Mary  Custis  Lee,  the  wife 
of  Col.  Robert  E.  Lee,  U.  S.  Army,  who  became  the  com- 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

mander-in-chief  of  the  Confederate  military  forces  late  in 
the  Civil  War  of  i86i-'65.  I  continued  my  visits  at  Ar 
lington  House  until  a  short  time  before  the  family  aban 
doned  it  and  joined  General  Lee  at  Richmond  in  the  spring 
of  1861. 

Arlington  House  was  filled  with  treasures  —  precious 
mementos  of  the  distinguished  family  at  Mount  Vernon. 
Furniture,  plate,  porcelain,  pictures,  account  -  books,  and 
manuscripts  of  various  kinds  —  relics  of  the  Washington 
and  Custis  families — were  there  in  abundance,  and  were 
placed  at  my  disposal  for  inspection,  research,  and  use. 

Mr.  Custis  was  eighteen  years  of  age  when  Washington 
died,  and  twenty  years  old  when  his  grandmother  left  the 
earth.  His  recollections  of  Washington  and  his  wife,  of 
his  own  personal  experiences  at  Mount  Vernon,  and  of  his 
acquaintances  and  associates  there,  were  very  vivid.  Dur 
ing  many  long  conversations  with  Mr.  Custis,  of  which  I 
made  brief  notes  to  assist  memory,  I  obtained  a  large 
amount  of  information,  especially  concerning  his  grand 
mother  and  her  family.  He  had  no  clear  remembrance  of 
Washington's  mother,  for  he  was  only  five  years  of  age 
when,  she  died. 

When,  in  1859,  Mrs.  Lee  placed  in  my  hands,  to  arrange 
and  annotate  for  the  press,  the  communications  of  her  fa 
ther  to  the  National  Intelligencer  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  under  the  title  of  "  Recollections  of  Washington,"  a 
large  quantity  of  autograph  letters  and  documents  pertain 
ing  to  the  Washington  and  Custis  families  were  put  into 


INTRODUCTION.  ix 

my  possession.  From  these  papers,  and  from  others  at  Ar 
lington  House,  from  bits  of  trustworthy  information  picked 
up  here  and  there,  sometimes  by  accident  but  more  fre 
quently  by  research  during  the  past  thirty-five  years,  I  gath 
ered  much  knowledge  concerning  the  mother  and  the  wife 
of  Washington,  which  has  hitherto  been  unrevealed  to  the 
public.  The  threads  of  knowledge  thus  gathered  form  the 
fabric  of  this  volume,  literary  and  artistic. 

In  delineating  the  career  of  Martha  Washington  I  have 
mingled  sketches  of  events  in  the  private  and  public  life  of 
her  husband  in  which  she  was  directly  or  indirectly  a  par 
ticipant — such  as  amusements,  fetes,  military  reviews,  recep 
tions,  entertainments,  hospitalities  at  Mount  Vernon,  and, 
notably,  the  life  at  various  head-quarters  of  the  army  during 
the  war  for  independence,  at  which  they  resided  together. 

So  with  the  illustrations.  Among  these  may  be  found 
pictures  of  head-quarters  at  which  Mrs.  Washington  tarried 
with  her  husband  after  the  close  of  each  campaign  ;  also 
of  the  two  churches  at  which  they  worshipped  together  a 
greater  part  of  their  lives  during  forty  years,  and  the  Presi 
dential  mansions  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  In  the 
delineation  of  other  objects  and  events,  care  has  been  exer 
cised  for  securing  accuracy  in  form  and  costume,  and  for 
conforming  to  historical  truth. 

The  engravings  which  illustrate  the  contents  of  this  vol 
ume  are  fac-similes  of  pen-and-ink  sketches  made  expressly 

for  this  work. 

BENSON  J.  LOSSING. 
THE  RIDGE,  1886. 


CONTENTS. 
MARY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

John  Ball  and  his  career,  3 ;  the  Ball  family  in  Virginia ;  William  Ball 
of  Kent,  6;  Joseph  Ball  and  daughter  Mary,  7;  Mary  Ball,  birth, 
parentage,  and  early  years  of,  7,  8 ;  defective  school  education  of 
Maiy,  9 ;  her  home  education,  10 ;  description  of  her  person ;  visits 
England,  n. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Portrait  of  Mary  Ball,  13;  history  of  the  portrait,  13-16;  Washington 
and  Ball  families  at  Cookham,  England,  16,  17;  Washington  family 
in  England,  18,  19;  the  family  in  Virginia,  18  ;  first  emigrants  to  Vir 
ginia,  19;  John  Washington,  20;  His  son  Augustine  marries  Mary 
Ball,  who  becomes  the  mother  of  George  Washington,  21;  place  of 
the  marriage  ;  birth  of  George  Washington,  22,  23  ;  discussion  of  the 
subject,  23,  24 ;  description  of  the  portrait  of  Mary  Ball ;  the  painter 
of  the  portrait,  25,  26. 

CHAPTER   III. 

Augustine  Washington's  home  in  Virginia,  27;  the  blessings  of  children ; 
house  destroyed  by  fire,  28  ;  George  Washington's  first  school-master  ; 
home  near  Fredericksburg,  29 ;  laying  of  a  memorial  stone,  30, 
31;  death  of  Augustine  Washington,  31;  character  of  Mary  Wash 
ington,  32,  33;  Lawrence  Washington,  34;  the  Mount  Vernon  es 
tates,  35 ;  young  Washington  and  the  untamed  colt,  36-38  ;  naval 
aspirations  of  the  lad,  39  ;  his  disappointment,  40. 

CHAPTER   IV. 

Lord  Fairfax,  42,  43 ;  young  Washington  his  favorite ;  Washington  a 
public  surveyor,  43;  death  of  Lawrence  Washington,  44;  George 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

Washington  inherits  Mount  Vernon;  Elizabeth  Lewis,  45;  French 
and  Indian  War,  46 ;  Washington  on  a  perilous  mission,  47;  in  the 
military  service,  48 ;  on  General  Braddock's  staff,  49;  letters  to  his 
mother,  50-53;  returns  to  Mount  Vernon,  51;  dissatisfaction  with 
the  service,  52  ;  commander-in-chief  of  the  Virginia  forces;  member 
of  the  House  of  Burgesses,  53. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Marriages  of  Mary  Washington's  children,  55;  her  removal  to  Freder- 
icksburg,  56;  home  at  Fredericksburg,  56;  absurd  fictions,  57;  news 
from  her  distinguished  son,  58  ;  her  domestic  habits,  faith,  and  forti 
tude,  59 ;  her  firmness  and  piety,  60 ;  her  fear  of  lightning,  61;  visited 
by  her  illustrious  son,  62 ;  attends  a  brilliant  ball  with  American  and 
French  officers,  63  ;  visited  by  Lafayette,  64,  65 ;  Washington's  last 
visit  to  his  mother,  66  ;  her  personal  appearance,  67. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Death  of  the  mother  of  Washington,  69 ;  her  funeral,  70;  a  tribute  to 
her  character ;  a  proposed  monument  to  her  memory;  corner-stone  of 
a  monument  laid,  72;  attendance  and  address  of  President  Jackson 
on  the  occasion,  73-75  ;  poem  by  Mrs.  Sigourney,  76 ;  a  monument 
erected  and  utterly  neglected,  77,  78. 


MARTHA. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  colonial  court  of  Virginia;  John  Dandridge,  83;  Miss  Martha  Dan- 
dridge  ;  John  Custis,  84;  Custis  marries  Frances  Parke,  84;  his  love- 
letter,  85  ;  matrimonial  infelicity,  86  ;  Daniel  Parke  Custis,  86;  wooes 
and  wins  Martha  Dandridge,  87;  impediments  in  the  way  removed, 
87,  88  ;  rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  89 ;  marriage  of  Daniel  Parke 
Custis  and  Martha  Dandridge,  90  ;  Mrs.  Custis's  watch,  90,  91;  their 
children,  92  ;  death  of  Mr.  Custis,  94 ;  colonels  Washington  and 
Chamberlayne,  95;  first  meeting  of  Washington  and  Mrs.  Custis,  96; 
Washington's  earlier  tender  attachments,  96,  97;  his  betrothal,  99; 
leaves  the  army  and  becomes  a  legislator,  100;  marriage  of  Colonel 
Washington  and  Mrs.  Custis,  101-103. 


CONTENTS.  Xiii 

CHAPTER  II. 

Residence  at  the  White  House  ;  Washington  assumes  the  care  of  his 
wife's  children  and  estate,  104;  his  personal  appearance  at  that  time, 
and  his  estate,  105  ;  domestic  supplies  from  London,  107;  .clothing, 
etc.,  for  the  children,  108,  109;  orders  a  harpsichord,  109;  Mount 
Vernon  embellished,  no  ;  life  at  Mount  Vernon,  111-115  i  the  chase, 
112-115;  social  enjoyments.  115;  horses  and  dogs  at  Mount  Ver 
non,  116;  Washington  equipped  for  the  road,  116;  attendance  at 
Pohich  Church,  117;  balls  and  parties;  methodical  habits  at  Mount 
Vernon,  118  ;  Mrs.  Washington's  abounding  goodness,  119. 

CHAPTER  III. 

A  new  class  of  visitors  at  Mount  Vernon;  political  aspect,  120;  Wash 
ington  engaged  in  public  affairs,  121;  death  of  Mrs.  Washington's 
daughter,  122;  Charles  Willson  Peale  paints  portraits  at  Mount  Ver 
non,  123;  John  Parke  Custis  and  his  desire  to  travel,  124;  his  be 
trothal  and  marriage,  125,  126;  Mrs.  Washington  and  her  daughter- 
in-law,  126;  children  of  John  Parke  Custis,  127;  the  first  Continental 
Congress,  128  ;  Mrs.  Washington's  patriotism,  128, 129  ;  doings  of  the 
Congress,  129,  130;  Patrick  Henry's  estimate  of  Washington,  130; 
Washington  Commander-in-chief,  131;  letter  to  his  wife,  132. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Alienation  of  friends;  British  troops  in  Boston,  134;  Washington  at 
Cambridge,  135  ;  Governor  Dunmore  alarms  the  Mount  Vernon  re 
gion,  136;  Mrs.  Washington's  courage;  sets  out  for  Cambridge,  137; 
at  Philadelphia,  138;  proceedings  concerning  a  ball  there,  139,140; 
Mrs.  Washington  avoids  New  York,  141 ;  her  journey  to  and  arrival 
at  Cambridge,  142,  143  ;  gloomy  aspect  of  affairs,  144;  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  and  social  life  at  Cambridge,  144;  Mrs.  Lucy  Knox,  145. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Affairs  at  Cambridge,  146;  Boston  besieged;  alarm  of  the  Loyalists,  147; 
the  British  evacuate  Boston,  148;  alarming  rumors  from  the  Potomac, 
148,  149;  Mrs.  Washington  tarries  at  Cambridge,  149;  visited  by 
Mercy  Warren,  150;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Custis, 150,151;  Mrs.  Washington 
dines  with  Mrs.  Warren,  151;  visited  by  Phillis  Wheatly,  a  slave, 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

152  ;  Mrs.  Washington  goes  to  New  York,  153  ;  inoculated  for  the 
small-pox, 1 54;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Custis  at  Mount  Vernon,  154, 155;  Lord 
Dunmore  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  155;  his  raid  up  the  Potomac  and  men-  4 
ace  of  Mount  Vernon,  156;  a  plot  to  murder  Washington,  156,  157; 
attempt  to  poison  him,  158;  letter  of  Mrs.  Washington,  158;  stirring 
military  events,  159  ;  position  of  Mrs.  Washington,  160. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  army  at  Whitemarsh,  161;  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  at  head-quar 
ters;  an  expedition  foiled,  162;  Mrs.  Washington's  journey  to  White- 
marsh  and  to  Valley  Forge,  165;  head-quarters  at  Valley  Forge,  166; 
condition  of  the  army  at  Valley  Forge,  167-171;  Mrs.  Washington's 
incessant  labors  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers,  168;  Mrs.  Washing 
ton's  description  of  the  head-quarters  at  Valley  Forge,  171:  disposi 
tion  of  the  troops  at  Valley  Forge,  172  ;  celebrating  the  alliance  with 
the  French,  173, 174;  Mrs.  Washington  at  the  celebration,  174;  Brit 
ish  evacuate  Philadelphia,  175;  battle  of  Monmouth  Court-house, 
176;  military  events  and  the  finances,  177. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Head-quarters  at  Middlebrook;  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  at,  178;  room 
fitted  up  for  her,  179;  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  French 
alliance,  180-182 ;  the  "  temple  "  and  its  adornments,  181, 182 ;  social 
life  at  head-quarters;  personal  notices  of  Washington  and  his  wife, 
183;  distinguished  visitors  and  a  review,  184;  a  picturesque  review, 
185;  the  army  at  the  Hudson  Highlands,  185;  military  events  and 
finances,  186;  Lafayette  and  French  troops,  187. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Head-quarters  at  Morristown,i8S  ;  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  there,  189; 
she  visits  Mrs.  Wilson  on  the  way,  189,  190;  a  severe  winter,  191; 
the  suffering  army;  alarms  at  head-quarters,  192;  Mrs.  Washington 
visited  by  ladies ;  these  assist  her  in  efforts  for  the  relief  of  the  sol 
diers,  193;  General  Schuyler  and  his  family;  a  night  at  head-quar 
ters,i94;  Colonel  Hamilton  and  Miss  Schuyler,  195 ;  distinguished 
visitors  at  head-quarters ;  death  of  one  of  them,  196 ;  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  returns  to  Mount  Vernon;  military  events,  197 1  cantonments  of 
the  American  Army,  198. 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Mrs.  Washington  assists  an  association  of  ladies,  in  Philadelphia,  in  pro 
viding  clothing  for  the  soldiers;  De  Chastellux  and  Grieve  on  Mrs. 
Washington,  200,  201;  Mrs.  Washington  at  head  -  quarters  at  New 
Windsor,  201;  Uzal  Knapp,  a  lifeguardsman,  201,  204;  a  Christmas 
dinner  at  head-quarters,  202-204;  nuts  and  eggs,  203;  little  Anna 
Brewster,  204,  205  ;  Mount  Vernon  again  threatened ;  a  compromise, 
206;  Mrs.  Washington's  life  at  New  Windsor,  207;  Washington  visits 
his  home,  208 ;  departure  for  the  camp  at  Yorktown,  209  •,  surrender 
of  Cornwallis;  an  ancient  nurse,  210;  death  of  J.  P.  Custis ;  Wash 
ington  adopts  two  of  his  children,  211;  goes  to  Philadelphia  with 
Mrs.  Washington,  212. 

CHAPTER  X, 

Effect  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  in  England,  213 ;  head-quarters  at 
Newburgh,  214;  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  there,  215;  grand  fete  at 
West  Point,  215-217;  the  French  army  on  the  Hudson;  French  offi 
cers  at  head-quarters,  218 ;  suggestion  of  a  mutiny  at  Newburgh,  219; 
Mrs.  Washington  and  pardoned  prisoners ;  disbandment  of  the  army 
begun,  220 ;  Society  of  the  Cincinnati ;  a  tour  in  New  York  State ; 
Mrs.  Washington  ill ;  Congress  votes  an  equestrian  statue  of  Wash 
ington  ;  at  Rocky  Hill,  221;  Mrs.  Washington's  final  farewell  to  camp 
life,  222 ;  her  gardening  at  Newburgh ;  charming  social  intercourse 
at  Princeton,  223 ;  Washington's  letter  on  matrimonial  affairs,  224; 
marriage  of  Dr.  Stuart  and  Mrs.  Custis;  evacuation  of  New  York, 
225 ;  Washington  parts  with  his  officers  and  resigns  his  commission, 
226;  accompanies  Mrs.  Washington  to  Mount  Vernon,  a  private  citi 
zen,  227;  a  joyous  Christmas  there,  228,  229. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Washington's  letters  on  his  retirement,  231;  letters  to  the  Marchioness 
de  Lafayette,  232,  233 ;  coveted  repose  denied ;  plan  for  enlarging 
the  "cottage,"  234;  the  new  mansion,  235,  236;  out-buildings  and 
grounds,  236-238 ;  visit  from  Lafayette,  239 ;  Mrs.  Washington  and 
a  French  hound,  240;  a  chimney-piece  presented,  240-242;  Pine,  a 
painter,  at  Mount  Vernon,  245;  Houdon,  a  sculptor,  there,  246;  Mrs. 
Graham  and  Samuel  Vaughan,  of  England,  visit  Mount  Vernon,  247, 
248. 

A 


XVI  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  French  minister  and  the  Marchioness  de  Brienne  visit  Mount  Ver- 
non,  249;  the  marchioness  charmed  by  her  visit;  paints  miniature 
likeness  of  Washington,  250,  251;  Brissot  de  Warville  visits  Mount 
Vernon  ;  his  account  of  Mrs.  Washington,  251;  Washington's  playful 
letter  to  de  Chastellux,  252  ;  costly  presents  from  French  officers,  253 ; 
new  plan  of  civil  government  needed,  254;  the  constitutional  conven 
tion  and  its  results,  255;  Washington  chosen  President  of  the  United 
States,  256;  .the  secretary  of  Congress  received  at  Mount  Vernon, 
257;  Washington  goes  to  New  York,  258  ;  incidents  of  his  journey; 
his  inauguration,  259;  a  grand  ball,  260;  costumes  at  the  ball,  261; 
a  fiction,  262. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

First  Presidential  mansion  in  New  York,  263;  Mrs.  Washington  begins 
her  journey  to  New  York,  264;  between  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia, 
265 ;  reception  at  Philadelphia ;  departure  for  New  York,  266 ;  at 
Liberty  Hall ;  arrival  at  New  York,  267;  a  dinner  party,  268 ;  morn 
ing  calls  and  public  reception,  269;  methods  of  receptions,  270,  271; 
the  President's  title  discussed,  273;  Presidential  etiquette,  274-276. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Mrs.  Washington's  life  in  New  York,  277;  epistolary  correspondence  be 
tween  herself  and  husband  destroyed,  278  ;  her  letter  to  Mercy  War 
ren  on  her  life  in  New  York,  279-281;  society  in  New  York,  281; 
the  theatre,  282,  283;  the  "  President's  March  "  composed  and  intro 
duced,  283,  284;  the  President's  eastern  tour,  284;  his  English  coach, 
287,  288  ;  New  Year  calls ;  domestic  life  at  the  President's  home,  288  ; 
second  Presidential  mansion  in  New  York,  289 ;  soldiers  come  to 
"head-quarters;"  how  Sundays  were  spent  there,  291;  the  place  of 
the  permanent  residence  of  the  national  government  considered,  291, 
292  ;  its  removal  to  Philadelphia,  292 ;  the  President  visits  Rhode 
Island,  293  ;  departure  for  Mount  Vernon  and  the  journey  thither, 
294,  295, 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Seat  of  government  at  Philadelphia,  296 ;  first  receptions  there  by  the 
President  and  Mrs.  Washington,  297;  breakfast  at  the  President's 
house;  Mrs.  Washington's  social  habits,  298;  Washington's  Southern 


CONTENTS.  Xvii 

tour,  299 ;  social  life  in  Philadelphia,  300 ;  Mrs.  Washington  takes  no 
part  in  public  affairs ;  ever  a  helpmate  for  her  husband,  301 ;  her 
letter  to  Mrs.  Hamilton,  302;  her  devotion  to  her  husband,  303; 
scurrilous  attacks  upon  Washington's  character,  304;  Lafayette  and 
his  family,  305;  celebrations  of  Washington's  birthday,  306;  its  cele 
bration  in  Philadelphia,  307;  last  levees  and  farewell  dinner,  307,  308; 
inauguration  of  the  second  President,  309;  a  grand  banquet,  309,  310. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Final  retirement  to  Mount  Vernon;  young  Lafayette,  311;  the  family 
at  Mount  Vernon;  repose  disturbed,  312;  Mrs.  Washington's  letter 
to  Mrs.  Knox,  313;  Mrs.  Washington's  household,  314;  Home  Rule 
at  Mount  Vernon,  315,  316;  Nelly  Custis's  account  of  domestic  life 
at  Mount  Vernon,  317,  318;  her  first  ball,  318;  Washington  on  love, 
319,  320;  Lawrence  Lewis  at  Mount  Vernon;  Nelly  Custis's  suitors, 
321,  322;  marriage  of  Lawrence  Lewis  and  Nelly  Custis,  322,  323; 
their  residence  at  Mount  Vernon,  323. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  presentiment,  324;  Washington's  dream,  324,  325;  Mrs.  Washington's 
illness;  Church  and  dancing  assemblies  at  Alexandria,  326;  death  of 
Washington,  327,  328;  Monuments  to  his  memory,  329,  330;  sick 
ness  and  death  of  Martha  Washington,  330,  331;  the  entombment  at 
Mount  Vernon,  331;  testimonials  to  the  character  of  Washington, 
332-334;  portraits  of  Martha  Washington,  334,  335;  conclusion,  336. 

APPENDIX. 
WILL  OF  MARTHA  WASHINGTON,  337-340. 

INDEX,  341-348. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

MARY  BALL Frontispiece 

JOHN  BALL  PREACHING 3 

ARMS  OF  THE  BALL  FAMILY 6 

WILLIAM  BALL'S  SIGNATURE 7 

MARY  BALL'S  SIGNATURE 9 

MARY  WASHINGTON'S  SIGNATURE 10 

COMBINED  ARMS  OF  THE  WASHINGTON  FAMILY 18 

WASHINGTON'S  ARMS 19 

CAVE  CASTLE 20 

FAC-SIMILE  OF  THE  ENTRY  OF  THE  BIRTH  OF  WASHINGTON  ...  22 

THE  WASHINGTON  RESIDENCE  NEAR  FREDERICKSBURG . . . .  29 

MEMORIAL  STONE. 30 

THE  FIRST  MANSION  AT  MOUNT  VERNON 35 

YOUNG  WASHINGTON  AND  THE  COLT .....  37 

LAWRENCE  WASHINGTON 44 

ROBT.  DlNWIDDIE 47 

MARY  WASHINGTON'S  HOUSE  AT  FREDERICKSBURG  . . . , 57 

MONUMENT  IN  MEMORY  OF  MARY  WASHINGTON 77 


MARTHA  WASHINGTON .Frontispiece 

MARTHA  CUSTIS'S  WATCH 91 

DANIEL  PARKE  CUSTIS 92 

MARTHA  CUSTIS 93 

COLONEL  WASHINGTON  AND  MRS.  CUSTIS 98 

ARMS  OF  THE  CUSTIS  FAMILY 108 

MRS.  WASHINGTON'S  CHILDREN no 


XX  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

WASHINGTON  EQUIPPED  FOR  THE  CHASE 113 

POHICH  CHURCH 117 

JOHN  PARKE  CUSTIS 125 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  CAMBRIDGE 135 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  NEW  YORK 153 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  WHITEMARSH 163 

MRS.  WASHINGTON'S  JOURNEY  TO  VALLEY  FORGE 166 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  VALLEY  FORGE 169 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  MORRISTOWN igi 

UZAL  KNAPP 204 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  NEWBURGH 215 

WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  ROCKY  HILL 222 

MANSION  AT  MOUNT  VERNON 235 

DIAGRAM  OF  GROUNDS  AND  BUILDINGS 238 

ITALIAN  CHIMNEY-PIECE 241 

TABLET  ON  THE  LEFT 242 

CENTRE  TABLET 242 

TABLET  ON  THE  RIGHT 242 

ELIZABETH  PARKE  CUSTIS 246 

GEO.  WASHINGTON  PARKE  CUSTIS 246 

MRS.  WASHINGTON'S  SEVRES  CHINA 254 

PRESIDENT'S  HOUSE  NEAR  FRANKLIN  SQUARE,  N.  Y 264 

WASHINGTON'S  ENGLISH  COACH 285 

PANEL  ON  WASHINGTON'S  COACH 288 

PRESIDENT'S  HOUSE  ON  BROADWAY,  N.  Y 290 

PRESIDENT'S  HOUSE  IN  PHILADELPHIA 297 

E.  P.  LEWIS  (NELLY  CUSTIS) 315 

NELLY  CUSTIS'S  HARPSICHORD 316 

SUMMER-HOUSE  AT  MOUNT  VERNON 325 

CHRIST  CHURCH,  ALEXANDRIA 326 

SHADOW  PORTRAIT 334 

NELLY  CUSTIS'S  BOOK-MARK 336 


MARY. 


MARY, 

THE    MOTHER   OF  WASHINGTON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  A  Being  breathing  thoughtful  breath, 
A  Traveller  between  life  and  death; 
The  reason  firm,  the  temperate  will, 
Endurance,  forethought,  strength  and  skill; 
A  perfect  Woman,  nobly  planned 
To  warn,  to  comfort,  and  command; 
And  yet  a  Spirit  still,  and  bright 
With  something  of  an  angel  light. — WORDSWORTH. 

THE  courtly  knight,  Sir  John  Froissart,  the  famous  chron 
icler  of  the  time  of  the  Plantagenets,  drew  with  a  brilliant 
pen  a  bold  sketch  of  a  "crazy  preacher  of  Kent,"  as  he 
called  him,  who  was  an  irrepressible  reformer,  and  a  leader 
in  Wat  Tyler's  rebellion  against  the  nobility  of  England  in 
the  1 4th  century. 

John  Ball  was  the  mad  preacher.  He  was  of  the  class 
of  married  priests  so  hated  and  harried  by  St.  Dunstan 
centuries  before.  A  sturdy  democrat — a  prototype  of  the 
socialists  and  nihilists  of  our  time — John  Ball,  for  fully  twen 
ty  years  before  he  was  silenced  by  the  sharp  and  conclusive 


2  MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

argument  of  the  executioner's  axe,  had  harangued  the  yeo 
men  in  Kentish  church-yards,  in  market-places,  and  at  fairs, 
always  taking  for  his  text  his  favorite  couplet — 

"  When  Adam  delv'd  and  Eve  span, 
Who  was  then  the  gentleman?" 

In  spite  of  stocks,  and  the  prison  of  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  in  which  he  had  thrice  languished ;  in  spite  of 
beatings  in  by-places  and  frequent  insults,  John  Ball  con 
tinually  inveighed  bitterly  against  the  tyranny  of  rank  and 
wealth  and  privilege  which  oppressed  the  people.  His  in 
vectives  were  aimed  at  the  nobles  and  prelates  of  the  realm. 
He  preached  the  seminal  doctrine  of  our  Declaration  of  In 
dependence,  pure  and  simple ;  and  the  people  listened  to 
him  with  eager  ears  and  loving  hearts,  as  a  prophet  and 
evangelist. 

There  was  cause  for  such  preaching  then.  The  candid 
old  chronicler  says  the  "commonalty"  were  sorely  op 
pressed,  and  were  absolute  bondmen  to  the  privileged 
class.  "  They  are  compelled  by  law  and  custom,"  he  said, 
"  to  plough  the  lands  of  gentlemen,  to  harvest  the  grain,  to 
carry  it  home  to  the  barn,  to  thresh  and  winnow  it ;  they  are 
also  bound  to  harvest  the  hay  and  carry  it  home,  and  to 
hew  the  wood  and  carry  it  home." 

Every  Sunday,  after  mass,  as  the  people  came  out  of  the 
church,  they  gathered  about  John  Ball.  On  one  of  these 
occasions  he  exclaimed,  says  the  chronicler,  "  My  good 
friends,  things  cannot  go  on  well  in  England,  nor  ever  will, 
until  everything  shall  be  in  common ;  when  there  shall 
neither  be  vassal  nor  lord,  and  all  distinctions  levelled ; 
when  the  lords  shall  be  no  more  masters  than  ourselves. 


JOHN    BALL    AS    A    PREACHER.  3 

How  ill  they  have  used  us  !  and  for  what  reason  do  they 
thus  hold  us  in  bondage  ?  Are  we  not  all  descended  from 
the  same  parents,  Adam  and  Eve  ?  and  what  can  they  show, 
or  what  reasons  give,  why  they  should  be  more  the  masters 
than  ourselves  ? — except,  perhaps,  in  making  us  labor  and 
work  for  them  to  spend  in  their  pride.  They  are  clothed 
in  velvets  and  rich  stuffs,  ornamented  with  ermine  and 
other  furs,  while  we  are  forced  to  wear  poor  clothes.  They 
have  wines,  spices,  and  fine  bread,  when  we  have  only  rye 


JOHN    BALL    PREACHING.       (FROM    A    MS.   OF    THE    FIFTEENTH    CENTURY.) 

and  the  refuse  of  the  straw ;  and,  if  we  drink,  it  must  be 
water.  They  have  handsome  seats  and  manors,  when  we 
must  brave  the  wind  and  rain  in  our  labors  in  the  field  ; 
but  it  is  from  our  labor  they  have  wherewith  to  support  their 
pomp.  We  are  called  slaves ;  and  if  we  do  not  perform 
our  services,  we  are  beaten,  and  we  have  not  any  sovereign 
to  whom  we  can  complain,  or  who  wishes  to  hear  us  and  do 
justice." 

The  people  murmured,  "John   Ball   speaks   the    truth." 
But  for  these  utterances  he  was  imprisoned  by  the  Arch- 


4          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

bishop  of  Canterbury.  This  act,  and  an  unjust  tax  levied 
at  about  that  time,  set  England  ablaze,  from  sea  to  sea, 
with  popular  indignation.  A  hundred  thousand  Kentish 
men  and  others,  led  by  Wat  Tyler  and  Jack  Straw,  entered 
Canterbury  (1381),  plundered  the  archbishop's  palace,  took 
John  Ball  from  prison,  and  set  him  on  a  horse  as  their 
leader,  and  pressed  on  towards  London,  killing  every  lawyer 
by  the  way—"  for  not  till  they  are  all  killed  will  the  land 
enjoy  freedom  !"  shouted  the  peasants.  They  sang  dog 
gerel  ditties,  many  of  them  composed  by  John  Ball,  which 
were  scattered  among  the  people  to  arouse  them  to  revolt. 
One  of  them  ran  thus : 

"  John  Ball,  Greeteth  you  all, 

And  doth  for  to  Understand  he  hath  rung  your  Bell. 
Now  Right  and  Might,  Will  and  Skill, 
God  speed  every  Dele. 
Now  reigneth  Pride  in  Price, 
And  Covetise  is  counted  Wise, 
And  Lechery  without  Shame, 
And  Gluttony  without  Blame,"  etc. 

In  these  rude  jingles  we  may  trace  the  beginning  of  the 
literature  of  political  controversy  in  England,  the  prede 
cessor  of  the  pamphlet  and  the  newspaper  controversies 
afterwards.  They  expressed  the  passions  of  the  oppressed 
multitude ;  their  yearnings  for  simple  justice  and  their 
scorn  of  the  immorality  of  the  nobles  and  the  infamy  of 
the  royal  house  and  the  Court. 

King  Richard  II.,  just  enthroned,  was  then  a  lad  of  six 
teen.  Advised  by  his  mother,  he  acted  wisely,  though  de 
ceitfully,  at  this  crisis,  in  quelling  the  insurrection,  by  meet- 
ins:  the  malcontents  face  to  face. 


DESCENDED    FROM    JOHN    BALL.  5 

"  We  will,"  shouted  the  insurgent  peasants,  "  that  you 
free  us  forever,  we  and  our  lands,  and  that  we  be  never 
named  or  held  as  serfs." 

"  I  grant  it,"  cried  Richard ;  and  he  bade  them  go  home, 
pledging  himself  to  issue  charters  and  forgiveness,  a  pledge 
intended  to  be  broken.  The  insurgents  dispersed,  all  but 
about  thirty  thousand  who  remained  with  Wat  Tyler  to 
watch  over  the  fulfilment  of  the  royal  pledge.  A  quarrel 
with  the  mayor  of  London  brought  on  a  conflict.  Wat 
Tyler  was  killed,  John  Ball  and  Jack  Straw  were  seized, 
and  their  heads  (cut  off  by  the  king's  command)  were,  with 
Tyler's,  displayed  upon  pikes  on  London  Bridge. 

"*  Mad'  as  the  land-owners  called  him,"  says  Green,  the 
historian,  "  it  was  in  the  preaching  of  John  Ball  that  Eng 
land  first  listened  to  the  knell  of  feudalism  and  the  decla 
ration  of  the  rights  of  man." 

The  death  of  John  Ball  occurred  at  Coventry  in  the  year 
1381,  five  hundred  years  ago.  His  voice  is  yet  sounding 
ominously  in  the  ears  of  the  privileged  classes  in  England, 
proclaiming  that  "  all  men  are  created  equal."  The  latest 
and  most  startling  echo  of  that  voice  was  heard  at  the  pas 
sage  by  the  British  Parliament,  in  the  autumn  of  1884,  of 
the  Franchise  and  Redistribution  Acts,  by  which  the  gov 
ernment  of  England  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  whole 
people. 

What  has  all  this  to  do  with  Mary,  the  mother  of  Wash 
ington  ?  it  may  be  asked.  Much — it  may  be  very  much. 
Possibly  the  democratic  spirit  of  our  beloved  patriot  was 
inherited  through  a  long  line  of  ancestry  from  the  "mad 
preacher  of  Kent."  Washington's  mother  was  Mary  Ball, 
of  English  descent,  the  second  wife  of  his  father,  and  there 


MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 


ARMS    OF  THE   BALL   FAMILY. 


are  weighty  reasons  for  believing  that  she  was  a  lineal  de 
scendant  from.  John   Ball,  the  mediaeval  champion  of  the 
rights  of  man. 

Many  years  ago  a  resident  of  Pe 
tersburg,  Va.,  sent  me  a  rude  pencil 
sketch  of  the  arms  of  the  Ball  family, 
which  he  copied  from  a  rough  water- 
color  drawing  belonging  to  an  old  Vir 
ginia  family.  It  is  an  escutcheon  bear 
ing  a  lion  rampant,  a  coat  of  mail,  and 
a  shield  bearing  two  lions  and  n^eiir 
de  Us.  The  crest  is  a  helmet,  with 
closed  visor.  Above  the  lion  is  a 

broad  bar,  half  red  and  half  gold.  At  the  bottom  of  the 
escutcheon  is  a  floating  ribbon  bearing  the  legend :  CCE- 
LUMQUE  TUERI.  On  the  back  of  the  picture  was  written: 

"  The  coat  of  arms  of  Colonel  William  Ball,  who  came  from  England, 
with  his  family,  about  the  year  1650,  and  settled  at  the  mouth  of  Coro- 
toman-  River,  in  Lancaster  County,  Virginia,  and  died  in  1669  leaving 
two  sons,  William  and  Joseph,  and  one  daughter,  Hannah,  who  married 
Daniel  Fox.  William  left  eight  sons  (and  one  daughter),  five  of  whom 
have  now  (Anno  Domini,  1779)  male  issue.  Joseph's  male  issue  is  ex 
tinct.  General  Geovge  Washington  is  his  grandson  by  his  youngest 
daughter,  Mary." 

Col.  William  Ball  was  a  native  of  Kent,  and  a  younger 
brother  of  John  Ball,  a  Calvinistic  divine  of  Woodstock, 
who  was  extolled  by  Fuller  and  Baxter  for  his  piety  and 
learning.  The  colonel  reluctantly  served  for  a  while  in  the 
royal  army  during  the  Civil  War,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Marston  Moor  and  Naseby.  His  estate,  which  was  consid 
erable,  was  much  injured  when  General  Fairfax  crushed  an 


THE    BALL    FAMILY.  7 

insurrection  in  Kent.  After  the  death  of  the  king,  Colonel 
Ball  came  to  America  and  settled  as  a  planter  in  Lancaster 
County,  in  South-eastern  Virginia.  His  adult  children  seem 
to  have  been  well  educated.  William,  the  oldest,  became  an 
expert  surveyor,  and  was  active  as  such  as  late  as  1737.* 

In  1670  William's  brother,  Joseph,  returned  to  England 
to  look  after  the  estate  left  by  their  father.  There  Joseph 
married,  and  there  he  dwelt  until  about  the  year  1695,  when 
he  returned  to  Virginia.  There,  late  in  1706,  his  youngest 
daughter,  Mary,  was  born.  This  daughter  became  the  moth 
er  of  Washington.  Her  brother,  Joseph  Ball,  Jr.,  was  edu 
cated  in  England  for  the  profession  of  the  law,  became  a 
practitioner  in  London,  married  Miss  Ravenscroft,  and  made 
the  country  of  his  birth  his  permanent  home.  He  probably 

*  The  following  note  (an  autograph),  written  by  William  Ball  to  Col. 
William  Fairfax,  is  in  a  beautiful,  round  hand.  "  His  Lordshipp  "  re 
ferred  to  was  Lord  Thomas  Fairfax,  of  Greenway  Court,  Virginia,  the 
friend  of  Washington  in  his  youth  and  early  manhood  : 

"Sm, 

"  I  expected  to  have  compleated  the  Survey  this  week,  and  to 
have  sent  it  to  his  Lordshipp,  but  am  verry  much  Indisposed  that  I  could 
not  doe  it  in  time.  Colonel  Grymes  has  Directed  me  to  have  the  Sur 
vey  at  Williamsburg  next  Wednesday,  where  I  hope  [to  be]  with  the 
Surveys  for  the  King's  Commission  and  his  Lordshipp's. 
"  I  am  with  due  Respect, 

"  Yr  Verry  Humble  Serv", 


Aprill  II,  I737-" 


8          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

never  resided  in  America  after  he  settled  in  England,  but 
seems  to  have  visited  Virginia,  where  he  had  landed  prop 
erty.  According  to  Bishop  Meade  ("  Old  Churches  and 
Families  in  Virginia,"  ii.,  128),  he  was  in  America  in  1729  ; 
and  the  letter  of  the  mother  of  Washington  to  him  in  the 
summer  of  1760  (see  note  on  page  10)  shows  that  he  was 
then  living  near  London. 

Very  little  is  known  of  the  youth  and  early  womanhood 
of  Mary  Ball.  Her  father  appears  to  have  been  a  well-to- 
do  planter  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rappahannock  River, 
near  where,  a  broad  stream,  its  fresh  waters  commingled 
with  the  brine  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  He  was  a  vestryman  of 
Christ  Church,  in  Lancaster.  In  a  fragment  of  a  list  of 
contributions  for  the  support  of  the  minister  of  that  parish 
(Rev.  John  Bell)  in  1712,  is  the  following  entry:  "Joseph 
Ball,  ;£5  " — a  considerable  sum  for  a  Virginia  planter  at 
that  time  to  give  for  such  a  purpose.  He  was  commis 
sioned  a  colonel  by  Gov.  Alexander  Spottswood,  and  was 
known  as  "  Colonel  Ball  of  Lancaster,"  to  distinguish  him 
from  another  Colonel  Ball,  his  cousin. 

Mary  Ball  seems  to  have  grown  to  womanhood  in  the  se 
rene  and  healthful  seclusion  of  a  well-ordered  home  in  a 
sparsely  settled  country.  Like  most  of  the  girls  in  the  col 
ony  at  that  time,  her  attainments  in  "  book  "  learning  must 
have  been  acquired  under  the  parental  roof,  for  early  in  the 
last  century  schools  were  almost  unknown  in  that  part  of 
our  country.  Governor  Berkeley  had,  half  a  century  before, 
thanked  God  there  were  no  free  schools  nor  a  printing-press 
in  Virginia,  and  hoped  there  would  not  be  in  a  hundred 
years.  In  1723  the  Bishop  of  London  addressed  a  circu 
lar  .letter  ;to  rthe  clergy  of  Virginia  (then  more  than  forty  in 


HER    EARLY    EDUCATION.  9 

number),  making  inquiries  about  the  religious  and  social 
conditions  of  their  people.  He  inquired,  "  Are  there  any 
schools  in  your  parish?"  All  answered,  "none;"  two  or 
three  of  them  excepting  charity  schools.  Private  schools, 
kept  at  the  houses  of  wealthy  gentlemen,  taught,  perhaps, 
by  unmarried  clergymen,  were  all  the  means  provided  for 
education  outside  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary. 

When  Mary  Ball  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age  she 
wrote  to  her  brother  abroad  on  family  matters,  and  conclud 
ed  her  letter  as  follows  :  "  We  have  not  had  a  school-mas 
ter  in  our  neighborhood  until  now  [January  14,  1723]  in 
nearly  four  years.  We  have  now  a  young  minister  living 
with  us,  who  was  educated  at  Oxford,  took  orders,  and  came 
over  as  assistant  to  Rev.  Kemp,  at  Gloucester.  That  par 
ish  is  too  poor  to  keep  both,  and  he  teaches  school  for  his 
board.  He  teaches  sister  Susie  and  me  and  Madam  Carter's 
boy  and  two  girls.  I  am  now  learning  pretty  fast.  Mama 
and  Susie  and  I  all  send  love  to  you  and  Mary.  This  from 
your  loving  sister, 


* 


The  education  of  Mary  was  evidently  defective,  but  not 
more  so  than  that  of  the  average  young  women  of  her  class. 
While  her  chirography  was  plain  and  business-like  in  char 
acter,  her  orthography  was  very  defective,  even  late  in  life.f 

*  Copied  from  an  autograph  letter  in  possession  of  a  friend  in  Balti 
more.  The  spelling  is  corrected. 

\  The  following  is  a  literal  copy  of  an  autograph  letter  of  Mary,  the 
mother  of  Washington,  to  her  brother  in  England,  in  possession  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Addis  Emmet,  of  New  York  : 


10 


MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 


But  her  career  indicates  that  she  had  received  at  home  an 
education  for  the  higher  duties  of  life,  of  far  greater  value 
and  importance  than  any  taught  in  schools.  From  her 
mother,  who  died  in  1728,  after  a  widowhood  of  many  years, 
she  had  doubtless  inherited  the  noblest  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart,  and  had  been  taught  all  those  domestic  virtues  of 
which  cotemporary  testimony  and  tradition  tell  us  she  was 
a  bright  exemplar— industry,  frugality,  integrity,  strength  of 
will  and  purpose,  obedient  to  the  behests  of  duty,  faithful 
ness,  and  modesty,  and  with  deep  religious  convictions.  She 

"  JULY  2, 1760. 

"  DEAR  BROTHER,  this  Corns  by  Captain  Nickleson.  You  seem  to 
blame  me  for  not  writeing  to  you  butt  I  doe  ashure  you  it  is  Note  for  a 
want  of  a  very  great  regard  for  you  and  the  family,  butt  as  I  dont  ship 
tobacco  the  Captains  never  call  on  me  soe  that  I  never  know  when  tha 
com  or  when  tha  goe.  I  believe  you  have  got  a  very  good  overseer  at 
this  quarter  now.  Captain  Newton  has  taken  a  large  lease  of  ground 
from  you  which  I  Deare  say  if  you  had  been  hear  yourself  it  had  not 
been  don.  Mr  Daniel  &  his  wife  &  family  is  well.  Cozin  Hannah  has 
been  married  &  lost  her  husband.  She  has  one  child  a  boy,  pray  give 
my  love  to  Sister  Ball  &  Mr.  Downman,  his  son-in-law  &  his  Lady  &  I 
am  Deare  Brother, 


MR  JOSEPII  BAM,  ESQCIBB 
At  Stratford  by  Bow 
Nigh  London" 


HER   APPEARANCE.  II 

was  strengthened  by  an  abiding  faith  in  the  Divine  prom 
ises  which  made  Mary,  the  mother  of  Washington,  a  model 
woman,  and  yet 

"  A  Creature  not  too  good 
For  human  Nature's  daily  food." 

I  have  met  with  only  two  allusions,  in  writing,  to  Mary 
Ball  before  her  marriage.  These  were  in  fragments  of  let 
ters  found  in  a  deserted  mansion  near  the  York  River  dur 
ing  the  late  Civil  War,  and  sent  to  me  in  a  small  package 
of  other  old  papers  of  no  real  value.  One  of  these  letters, 
written  in  a  feminine  hand,  dated  "  Wms  Burg,  ye  7th  of 
Octr,  1722,"  began  as  follows: 

"  DEAR  SUKEY — 

Madam  Ball  of  Lancaster  and  Her  Sweet 
Molly  have  gone  Horn.  Mamma  thinks  Molly  the  Com- 
liest  Maiden  She  Knows.  She  is  about  16  yrs  old,  is  taller 
than  Me,  is  verry  Sensable,  Modest  and  Loving.  Her  Hair 
is  like  unto  Flax,  Her  Eyes  are  the  color  of  Yours  and  her 
Chekes  are  like  May  blossoms.  I  wish  You  could  See 
Her." 

The  other  letter  was  written  by  "  Lizzie  Burwell "  to  a 
friend.  It  was  so  torn  and  faded  as  to  be  almost  illegible  ; 
only  the  subjoined  part  of  a  sentence  could  be  deciphered : 

"  —  understand  Molly  Ball  is  going  Home  with  her  Broth 
er  a  Lawyer,  who  lives  in  England.  Her  Mother  is  Dead 
three  Months  ago,  and  her  Sister — " 

Here  a  fragment  of  the  letter  was  torn  off,  together  with 
all  the  superscription  excepting  "  Miss  Nelly  Car."  At  the 
top  of  the  letter  were  the  words,  "tank,  May  ye  i5th,  1728." 


12         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

This  is  the  sum  of  my  information  concerning  Mary  Ball 
before  her  marriage,  when  she  was  about  twenty-four  years 
of  age.  Of  that  important  event  in  her  life  some  exceed 
ingly  interesting  statements  were  given  to  the  author  of 
this  volume  a  dozen  years  ago,  which  he  published  in  the 
form  of  a  communication  in  the  American  Historical  Record, 
of  which  he  was  then  the  editor.  The  communication  ap 
peared  in  April,  1872,  and  challenged  the  attention  of  gene 
alogists  and  biographers,  and  created  considerable  discus 
sion  for  a  while. 

As  some  of  the  statements  seemed  to  be  hopelessly  in 
volved  in  improbability,  in  the  absence  of  supporting  testi 
mony,  either  in  history  or  tradition,  the  subject  soon  ceased 
to  attract  attention.  New  light  having  been  cast  upon  it 
since  those  statements  were  published,  they  assume  much 
importance,  and  they  are  presented  in  the  next  chapter  as 
a  part  of  the  biography  of  Mary,  the  mother  of  Washington. 


CHAPTER  II. 

IN  December,  1871,  while  at  the  house  of  the  late  Prof. 
Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  LL.D.,  in  New  York  City,  he  called  my 
attention  to  a  picture  of  a  young  lady  in  his  possession, 
which  it  was  claimed  was  a  portrait  of  Mary  Ball,  the  moth 
er  of  Washington,  painted  just  before  her  marriage.  He 
gave  me  a  brief  but  interesting  history  of  the  picture.  Pro 
fessor  Morse  also  had  in  his  possession  a  small  package  of 
documents  relating  to  the  portrait,  and  on  my  expressing 
great  interest  in  the  subject,  he  kindly  handed  the  papers 
to  me,  with  permission  to  make  such  use  of  them  as  I  might 
choose.  From  their  contents  I  compiled  the  communica 
tion  to  the  American  Historical  Record  alluded  to  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  the  essential  portions  of  which  I  here  re 
peat. 

Professor  Morse  received  the  picture  from  George  Har 
vey,  a  painter,  to  whom  it  had  been  bequeathed  by  George 
Field,  of  England,  known  in  the  republic  of  letters  as  the 
author  of  important  works  on  philosophy  and  art.*  In  a 
written  history  of  the  picture,  given  to  Professor  Morse,  Mr. 
Harvey  said  that  while  he  was  in  England,  in  1847,  and  lect 
uring  on  the  "  Scenery,  Resources,  and  Progress  of  the 

*  George  Field  was  born  in  1777,  and  died  in  1854.  He  was  the  au 
thor  of  "British  School  of  Modern  Artists,"  1802;  "Chromatics;  or, 
Harmony  of  Colors  "  (new  edition),  1845 ;  "  Outlines  of  Analytical  Philos 
ophy,"  1839;  "  Tritogenea:  A  Synopsis  of  Universal  History,"  1846,  etc. 


14         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

Northern  Part  of  the  United  States,"  he  made  the  acquaint 
ance  of  Mr.  Field,  who  informed  the  artist  that  he  possessed 
the  portrait  of  Miss  Ball,  who  became  the 'mother  of  Wash 
ington,  and  invited  Mr.  Harvey  to  his  home  to  see  it.  He 
accepted  the  invitation,  and  was  struck  with  the  resemblance 
of  the  features  to  the  best  authenticated  portraits  of  Wash 
ington.  Mr.  Harvey  mentioned  the  subject  to  his  friends 
on  his  return  to  Boston,  and  to  satisfy  their  incredulity  he 
wrote  to  Mr.  Field  for  an  explicit  statement,  in  writing,  con 
cerning  the  portrait.  Mr.  Harvey  received  a  response  un 
der  the  date  of  "Sion  Hill,  Feb.  25,  1851."  Mr.  Field,  then 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  wrote  : 

"  It  happened  when  I  was  a  boy  that,  being  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Cookham,  in  Berkshire,  with  an  uncle  of  mine, 
he  pointed  out  a  pretty  country  cottage,  in  which  the  par 
ents  of  General  Washington  resided,  and  from  which  they 
removed  to  America.  Our  road  led  to  a  green,  or  common, 
where  there  resided  a  Mrs.  Ann  Morer,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Taylor,  who  there  showed  me  the  portrait  of  Mrs.  W^ash- 
ington,  and  other  reliques  of  the  family,  given  to  her  when 
they  quitted  the  place  for  America,  to  which  country  her 
aunt  or  mother,  she  told  me,  took  George  Washington  in 
her  arms. 

"  I  believe  I  use  her  own  expression.  Some  years  after 
this,  happening  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cookham,  I 
called  on  Mrs.  Morer,  who  again  showed  me  the  portrait, 
and  mentioned  that  two  American  gentlemen,  friends  of 
Washington  or  his  family,  had  sought  her  out  as  the  nearest 
relative  of  his  nurse,  and  presented  her  with  two  guineas. 

"Again,  about  1812,  when  residing  on  the  edge  of  Wind 
sor  Forest,  my  wife  hired  a  servant,  Hannah  Taylor,  and 


HER    PORTRAIT.  1 5 

finding  she  came  from  Cookham,  I  inquired  if  she  knew  Mrs. 
Morer,  when  I  learned  that  she  had  recently  died  and  that 
her  effects  were  about  to  be  sold  by  auction  ;  on  which  I  re 
quested  Hannah  immediately  to  write  to  her  mother,  and 
desire  all  the  pictures  to  be  bought  for  me — which  was  done, 
and  I  obtained  the  portrait  in  question  with  the  other  heads, 
and  have  kept  them  ever  since,  as  I  showed  it  to  you.  As 
there  could  have  been  no  purpose  beyond  the  truth  in  this 
statement,  I  have  never  doubted  and  continue  to  believe  it 
firmly.  I  have  shown  the  portrait  to  numberless  persons, 
and  was  induced  to  address  a  letter  to  Judge  Washington,* 
at  Mount  Vernon,  in  1824,  supposing  him  to  be  the  repre 
sentative  of  the  family,  offering  to  restore  the  picture,  but 
did  not  receive  an  answer. 

"  Mr.  Chapman,t  an  American  artist,  known  to  the  family, 
took  a  slight  sketch  of  the  head,  in  which  he  recognized  a 
family  likeness  of  the  Washingtons  ;  nor  is  it  without  resem 
blance  to  Washington  portraits. 

*  Bushrod  Washington,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  He  inherited  the  mansion  and  four  thousand  acres  of  the  Mount 
Vernon  estate  at  the  death  of  Mrs.  Washington.  He  was  a  son  of 
John  Augustine,  a  brother  of  the  general.  He,  too,  was  childless. 

f  John  Gadsby  Chapman,  who  in  1848  went  to  Rome  to  reside,  and 
still  (1886)  lives  there.  When  Mr.  Irving  made  his  first  arrangements 
for  publishing  his  "  Life  of  Washington,"  it  was  agreed  to  have  it  freely 
illustrated  with  engravings  on  wood,  and  Mr.  Chapman  was  engaged  to 
make  the  designs.  He  went  to  England  in  search  of  materials,  and  it 
was  at  that  time,  probably,  that  he  visited  Mr.  Field.  The  author  of 
this  volume  was  engaged  to  execute  the  engravings,  and  he  remembers 
seeing  the  original  sketch  of  Mary  Ball's  head  and  bust  made  by  Chap 
man.  The  arrangement  with  that  publisher  was  ended  by  his  failures 
in  business. 


1 6  MARY,   THE    MOTHER    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  Mr.  Justine  Carleton,  of  New  Orleans,  to  whom  I  show 
ed  the  portrait,  mentioned,  in  confirmation  of  my  statements, 
the  circumstances  of  the  marriage  of  Augustine  Washington 
with  Miss  Ball  (the  parents  of  the  great  George  Washington) 
in  this  country,  and  her  emigration  with  him  to  America." 

Mr.  Harvey  permitted  extracts  from  Mr.  Field's  letter  to 
be  published  in  a  leading  Boston  newspaper.  He  was  im 
mediately  so  much  annoyed  by  intrusive  inquiries  that  he 
transferred  the  investigation  of  the  affair  to  the  New  Eng 
land  Historic  and  Genealogical  Society.  He  gave  its  secre 
tary  (the  late  T.  Wingate  Thornton)  a  letter  of  introduction 
to  Mr.  Field.  Many  letters  passed  between  these  gentle 
men  ;  and  "  Mr.  Thornton,"  says  Mr.  Harvey,  "  obtained 
much  information  in  America  tending  to  confirm  Mr.  Field's 
statements." 

By  his  will,  dated  January  19,  1852,  Mr.  Field  bequeathed 
the  portrait  in  question  to  Mr.  Harvey,  when  the  artist  re 
solved  to  make  a  personal  investigation  concerning  its  au 
thenticity.  He  went  to  England  in  1853,  and  visited  Cook- 
ham,  where,  according  to  tradition  given  to  Mr.  Field,  the 
parents  of  Washington  resided  before  they  went  to  Ameri 
ca.  He  ascertained  that  Washingtons  had  lived  at  Cook- 
ham.  He  called  upon  the  rector  of  the  parish  church  to 
ask  leave  to  examine  the  parish  register.  The  rector  told 
him  that  "  a  rascally  lawyer  had  obtained  possession  of  the 
Baptismal  and  Marriage  Register  before  his  (the  rector's) 
time,  and  at  a  great  fire  they  had  been  destroyed ;  but  that 
the  records  of  the  deaths  of  the  Washingtons  were  all  safe," 
for  the  Burial  Register  was  preserved.  In  this  Register 
Mr.  Harvey  found  the  names  of  several  Washingtons  of 
both  sexes.  He  also  found  recorded  therein  the  burial 


AUGUSTINE   WASHINGTON.  17 

records  of  several  members  of  a  Ball  family  who  had  re 
sided  there.  Among  them  was  the  following  entry : 

"John  Ball,  was  buried  26th  of  May,  1707. 

"  Mary  Ball,  was  buried  Oct.  23,  1729." 

Mr.  Harvey  erroneously  supposed  these  to  have  been  the 
parents  of  Washington's  mother.  Her  father's  name  was 
Joseph,  and  he  was  alive  and  in  Virginia  as  late  as  1711. 
The  name  of  her  mother  is  unknown.  It  is  a  rather  singu 
lar  coincidence  that  the  year  of  the  death  of  the  above  Mary 
Ball  was  nearly  the  same  as  that  of  Mrs.  Washington's 
mother. 

While  he  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Cookham,  in  Berkshire 
County,  Mr.  Harvey  met  a  very  aged  man,  named  Great- 
hurst,  who  introduced  him  to  a  gentleman  "  who  had  lived  in 
the  house  where  Washington  was  born  ;"  and  by  him  he  was 
permitted  to  "  copy  a  drawing  of  the  house,  then  supplant 
ed  by  a  pretty  villa."  In  the  garden  Mr.  Harvey  saw  and 
sketched  "  a  large  walnut-tree  planted  by  Augustine  Wash 
ington  [the  father  of  General  Washington]  while  a-waiting 
to  find  a  purchaser  of  the  property."  Mr.  Harvey  also  as 
certained  (by  what  means  he  does  not  inform  us)  that  Au 
gustine  Washington  was  in  England  about  the  year  1729,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  possession  and  disposing  of  some 
property  to  which  he  had  fallen  heir.  This  is  the  sum  of 
information  derived  from  Mr.  Harvey.  Let  us  turn  for  a 
moment  to  a  consideration  of  what  is  known  of  Augustine 
Washington  before  his  marriage  with  Mary  Ball.  It  is  very 
little. 

Augustine  Washington  was  a  scion  of  an  ancient  family, 
distinguished  at  times  in  English  history,  and  descended 
from  William  de  Hertburn,  a  knight,  who  possessed  the  vil- 

2 


i8 


MARY,  THE    MOTHER    OF    WASHINGTON. 


lage  of  Wessyngton,  in  Durham  County,  and  who,  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  period,  took  the  name  of  his  estate. 
Wessyngton  in  time  became  Weshington,  Wassington,  and 
finally  Washington.*  The  Washingtons  adhered  to  the  fort- 

*  The  pedigree  of  the  branch  of  the  Washington  family  in  Virginia 
down  to  Augustine,  the  father  of  the  general,  is  as  follows  :  WILLIAM 

de  Hertburn,  Lord  of  the  manor 
of  Washington,  from  whom  de 
scended  JOHN  Washington  of 
Whitefield,  of  the  time  of  Rich 
ard  III.;  ROBERT  of  Wharton 
(second  son)  married  daughter 
of  Robert  Kilson,  Esq.,  time 
of  Henry  VII.;  LAWRENCE  of 
Northampton  and  Gray's  Inn, 
had  grants  of  lands  of  Sulgrave, 
30th  Henry  VIII. ,  married  Anna, 
daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Stanley, 
knight;  JOHN  of  Sulgrave  died  3d 
of  Edward  VI. ;  GEORGE  of  Sul 
grave  married  Eleanor,  daughter 
and  heir  of  John  Hastings,  grand 
son  of  the  2d  Earl  of  Hunting 
don  ;  JOHN  emigrated  to  America 
in  1657,  married,  in  1654,  Jane, 
daughter  of  Sir  Hugh  Wallace,  of 
Bucks — Anne  Pope,  of  Westmore 
land  Co.,  Va.;  LAWRENCE,  of 
Bridge's  Creek,  married  Mildred 
Warner,  daughter  of  Col.  Augus 
tine  Warner,  of  Gloucester  Co. 
COMBINED  ARMS  OF  THE  WASHINGTON  The  Washington  coat-of-arms 

in  full  consists   of   eleven  quar- 

terings,  as  seen  in  the  above  engraving.     It  is  composed  of  arms  of 
families   included   in   the   pedigree    of    General   Washington   back   to 


THE  WASHINGTON  GENEALOGY. 


unes  of  the  Stuart  dynasty  during  the  Civil  War.  Sir  Will 
iam  Washington,  of  Kent,  married  the  half-sister  of  the  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  the  favorite  of  Charles  I.  Sir  Henry  Wash 
ington  was  a  young  and  brave  military  leader  during  the 
war,  serving  under  Prince  Rupert  (nephew  of  Charles),  and 
commanding  at  the  siege  of  Worcester.  After  the  death  of 
Charles  many  of  the  loyalists,  dissatisfied  with  the  rule  of 
Cromwell,  emigrated  to  Virginia,  which  had  remained  loyal 
to  the  Stuarts,  where  they  might  live  free  from  molestation. 
Among  these  emigrants  were  John  and  Lawrence  Washing 
ton,  younger  brothers  of  Sir  William  Washington,  who  reach 
ed  Virginia  about  the  year  1657,  and  settled  at  Bridge's 
Creek,  on  the  Potomac  River,  in  Westmoreland  County, 
where  they  bought  lands  and  became  successful  planters. 
John  had  resided  on  an  estate  in  South  Cave,  in  Yorkshire, 

the  century  immediately  succeeding  the  conquest  of  England  by  the 
Normans.  The  family  in  Virginia  chose  for 
its  arms  the  quartering  seen  in  the  upper  left- 
hand  corner  of  the  escutcheon,  supposed  to  be 
the  original  arms  of  the  family,  which  consists 
of  a  white  ground,  three  red  mullets  or  spur- 
rowels  (indicating  the  filial  distinction  of  the 
third  son),  and  two  red  horizontal  bars.  The 
crest  is  composed  of  a  helmet  surmounted  by 
a  ducal  coronet,  out  of  which  proceeds  a  soar 
ing  raven.  Washington  had  his  arms  so  paint 
ed  on  his  English  coach,  a  copy  of  which  is 
here  given.  The  legend — EXCITUS  ACTA 
PROBAT:  "Actions  are  tested  by  their  results" 
— is  most  appropriate  for  the  arms  of  Wash- 

rr,,  r  ,-\     •  J  e  WASHINGTONS   ARMS. 

mgton.     The  words  are  from  Ovid — a  part  of 

a  love-letter  from  a  young  princess  of  Thrace  to  her  negligent  lover,  a 

prince  of  Athens. 


20         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

an  ancient  seat  of  the  Washingtons.*  Lawrence  had  been 
a  student  at  Oxford,  and  in  1654  had  married  Jane,  daugh 
ter  of  Sir  Hugh  Wallace. 

John  Washington  was  an   energetic  man,  possessed  of 
military  genius  and  taste.     Eighteen  years  after  his  arrival 


CAVE   CASTLE. 


in  the  colony  a  serious  incursion  of  the  fierce  Seneca  In 
dians  from  the  upper  waters  of  the  Susquehannah  River 

*  Cave  Castle,  the  residence  of  the  Washingtons,  is  north  of  the  Hum- 
ber,  and  is  said  to  be  well  preserved.  It  is  a  massive,  square  structure 
of  stone,  in  the  mural  style,  with  a  battlemented  tower  at  each  corner, 
and  three  stories  in  height.  Its  timber  is  chiefly  of  oak,  and  in  several 
of  the  rooms,  particularly  in  the  large  hall  or  banqueting  room,  are  re 
mains  of  rich  carvings  and  gilding  in  the  cornices  and  wainscoting. 
Over  the  mantle-pieces,  elaborately  carved,  are  the  family  arms,  richly 
emblazoned  upon  escutcheons.  The  walls  of  the  house  are  five  feet 
thick.  It  stands  on  an  eminence,  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the 
picturesque  country  around  it.  The  castle  is  surrounded  by  beautiful 
gardens  and  orchards. 


HER    MARRIAGE.  21 

threatened  the  colonies  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  with  des 
olation,  if  not  destruction.  John  Washington  commanded 
a  Virginia  force  to  repel  the  invaders,  and  was  successful. 
As  a  reward  for  his  services  he  was  commissioned  colonel, 
and  in  his  honor  the  parish  in  which  he  resided  was  named 
Washington.  He  married  Miss  Anne  Pope,  of  Westmore 
land,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Lawrence  and  John,  and 
one  daughter.  The  elder  son,  Lawrence,  married  Mildred, 
daughter  of  Colonel  Augustine  Warner,  of  Gloucester 
County,  and  had  three  children,  John,  Augustine,  and  Mil 
dred. 

Augustine  Washington  was  born  in  1694,  and  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Caleb  Butler, 
of  Westmoreland  County.  They  had  four  children — three 
sons  and  one  daughter :  Butler,  who  died  in  infancy,  Law 
rence,  Augustine,  and  Jane,  the  latter  dying  in  early  child 
hood.  Their  mother  died  in  November,  1728,  when  her 
husband  was  about  thirty-four  years  of  age. 

In  1792,  President  Washington,  by  request,  sent  to  Sir 
Isaac  Heard,  Garter  King  of  Arms,  in  London,  a  genealogi 
cal  table  of  the  Washington  family  in  Virginia.  In  it  occur 
these  words : 

"Jane,  wife  of  Augustine  [Washington],  died  November  24,  1728, 
and  was  buried  in  the  family  vault  at  Bridge's  Creek.  Augustine  then 
married  Mary  Ball,  March  6,  1730." 

No  hint  is  given  as  to  where  this  marriage  took  place, 
nor  is  there  any  known  record  extant  that  can  answer  the 
question,  Where  were  Augustine  Washington  and  Mary 
Ball  wedded  ?  There  is  no  tradition  that  can  answer,  ex 
cepting  that  given  by  Mr.  Harvey  that  they  were  married 
in  England. 


22 


MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 


We  have  observed  an  intima 
tion  in  a  fragment  of  a  letter 
(see  page  n)  that  Mary  Ball 
went  to  England  with  her 
brother  in  1728,  and  Mr.  Har 
vey  ascertained  at  Cookham 
that  Augustine  Washington 
was  there  in  1729;  also  that 
families  of  Washingtons  and 
Balls  had  lived  and  been  bur 
ied  there.  He  also  ascertained 
that  Augustine  Washington 
tarried  there  to  effect  the  sale 
of  some  property  he  had  fallen 
heir  to.  In  Virginia  the  Wash 
ington  and  Ball  families  lived 
in  adjoining  counties,  and  were 
doubtless  personally  acquaint 
ed  with  each  other.  The  ques 
tion  naturally  arises,  "  May  not 
Augustine  Washington  and 
Mary  Ball  have  met  in  Eng 
land  and  married  there  ?" 

When  George  Washington 
was  about  seventeen  years  of 
age,  he  wrote  the  following 
sentence  in  his  mother's  Bible, 
in  a  fair,  regular,  round  hand, 
unlike  his  writing  of  a  later 
period : 

"  George    Washington,    Son 


23 

to  Augustine  and  Mary  his  Wife,  was  born  yc  nth  Day  of 
February,  173^-  about  10  in  the  morning  &  was  Baptized  on 
the  3th  of  April  following,  Mr  Beverley  Whiting  &  Cap1 
Christopher  Brooks  Godfather,  &  Mrs  Mildred  Gregory, 
Godmother."*  And  in  the  genealogical  table  which  he 
sent  to  Sir  Isaac  Heard  in  1792,  he  wrote  :  "George,  eldest 
son  of  Augustine  by  the  second  marriage,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  County,"  etc. 

Where  was  Washington  born  and  baptized  ?  There  is 
no  known  official  record  that  can  solve  the  question.  There 
is  no  tradition  that  helps  to  solve  it,  excepting  the  state 
ment  of  Washington  quoted  above,  and  that  of  Mrs.  Morer, 
who  says  he  was  born  in  Cookham,  and  was  carried  to 
America  in  the  arms  of  either  her  "  aunt  or  mother."  How 
trustworthy  is  the  tradition  of  the  latter,  let  us  see. 

Mrs.  Morer  died  in  1812,  eighty  years  after  the  birth  of 
Washington.  She  must  have  been  a  very  young  child  when, 
as  she  says,  her  "aunt  or  mother"  went  to  America  as  a 

*  On  the  discussion  of  this  subject  some  years  ago,  the  statement  in 
the  family  Bible  that  Washington  was  born  on  the  nth  of  February  and 
was  baptized  on  the  (apparently)  3d  of  April,  made  the  stoiy  of  his  birth 
in  England  highly  improbable,  for  it  gave  the  mother  only  fifty-one  or 
fifty-two  days  to  recover  sufficiently  from  the  effects  of  childbirth,  make 
a  long  voyage  of  those  times  at  that  inclement  season  of  the  year,  and 
prepare  for  and  effect  the  baptism.  There  is  internal  evidence  in  the 
entry  in  the  Bible  that  the  writer  intended  to  add  another  numeral  to 
the  figure  3  in  the  date  of  the  baptism.  A  fac-simile  of  that  entry  is 
here  given.  It  may  be  observed  that  after  the  figure  "  3  "  are  the  let 
ters  "  th  "  instead  of  "  rd,"  as  they  should  have  been  if  the  act  occurred 
on  the  3d.  The  writer  probably  intended  to  write  the  "  3oth,"  but  in 
advertently  omitted  the  cipher.  If  so,  there  was  ample  time  for  the  cir 
cumstances  of  the  birth,  the  voyage,  and  the  baptism  to  occur. 


24          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

nurse  for  him— too  young,  too,  to  be  the  likely  recipient,  as 
she  says  she  was,  of  the  portrait  of  Mary  Ball  and  "other 
relicks  of  the  [Washington]  family."  Mr.  Field  was  born 
in  1777.  He  received  the  story  from  Mrs.  Morey's  lips 
when  he  was  "  a  boy,"  say  eighteen  years  of  age,  when,  ac 
cording  to  her  narrative,  she  must  have  been  fully  seventy- 
five  years  old.  Would  any  court  receive  testimony  of  this 
nature  as  trustworthy? 

It  lacked  only  about  a  month  of  being  two  years  from  the 
time  of  the  marriage  of  Washington's  parents  until  his  birth, 
or  fully  three  years  after  his  father  went  to  England.  Au 
gustine  had  left  in  Virginia  his  large  estate  and  various 
concerns,  and  his  two  sons,  one  about  seven  years  and  the 
other  about  nine  years  of  age.  Would  he  be  likely  to  re 
main  abroad  so  long,  neglectful  of  his  family  and  estate,  to 
receive  and  dispose  of  some  property  in  England  which  he 
had  inherited  ? 

Does  it  not  seem  probable  that  Augustine  Washington 
and  Mary  Ball  were  married  in  England,  and  after  tarrying 
there  a  while  to  dispose  of  some  property,  returned  to  Vir 
ginia,  where  their  first  child  was  born  and  baptized,  two 
years  after  their  wedding  ? 

The  portrait  in  question,  in  the  possession  of  the  family 
of  Professor  Morse,  bears  weighty  circumstantial  testimony 
in  favor  of  its  being  the  likeness  of  Mary  Ball.  It  is  a 
three-quarter  length,  in  a  sitting  posture,  of  a  comely  young 
woman  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-five  years  of  age.  Her 
figure  and  pose  denote  physical  perfection.  Her  costume 
is  of  the  Sir  Peter  Lely,  or,  rather,  the  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller 
style — low  bosom,  short  oversleeves,  etc.  Her  dress  is  of 
the  shadow- of -gold  color;  her  hair  is  of  auburn  tint,  or 


THE    PAINTER    OF    HER    PORTRAIT.  25 

rather  of  a  blonde,  harmonizing  with  her  complexion,  and  her 
eyes  blue  or  rich  gray.  This  corresponds  with  a  descrip 
tion  of  her  person  when  she  was  about  sixteen  years  old, 
given  in  the  fragment  of  a  letter  cited  on  page  12.  The 
form  and  general  expression  of  her  face,  especially  of  the 
forehead,  eyes,  and  nose,  are  those  of  Washington's,  in  a 
remarkable  degree  as  portrayed  by  Houclon  in  his  statue  at 
Richmond  made  from  a  cast  from  the  living  face,  and  by 
Rembrandt  Peale,  whose  portrait  of  the  Great  Leader  was 
painted  while  he  was  President,  and  which  was  pronounced 
by  the  patriot's  most  intimate  friends  the  best  likeness  of 
him  ever  produced.  She  holds  between  her  forefinger  and 
thumb,  very  daintily,  a  pretty  white  flower. 

Mr.  Harvey  expressed  to  Professor  Morse  his  belief  that 
the  picture  was  painted  by  Thomas  Hudson,*  the  most  pop 
ular  portrait-painter  in  London  after  the  death  of  Sir  God 
frey  Kneller,  in  1723.  His  pictures  were  familiar  to  Har 
vey;  so,  also,  they  were  to  Professor  Morse,  who  had 
studied  them  in  London.  As  we  stood  before  the  portrait, 
Professor  Morse  pointed  out  some  technical  features  in  the 
execution  of  the  picture  observed  by  both  himself  and  Mr. 


*  Thomas  Hudson  was  a  native  of  Devonshire,  where  he  was  born  in 
1701.  He  became  a  pupil  of  Jonathan  Richardson,  an  eminent  English 
portrait-painter,  and  married  his  daughter.  He  soon  excelled  his  mas 
ter  in  imagination  and  in  the  graceful  pose  of  his  subjects,  and  be 
came  the  most  fashionable  portrait-painter  in  the  English  metropolis. 
Hudson  was  the  tutor  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  who  finally  effected  such 
a  revolution  in  art  in  England  that  his  master's  popularity  was  over 
thrown.  Hudson  had  made  a  fortune.  He  abandoned  the  profession 
and  retired  to  his  estate  at  Twickenham,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
nearly  fourscore. 


26  MARY,  THE    MOTHER   OF    WASHINGTON. 

Harvey,  confirmatory  of  their  belief  that  it  was  one  of  Hud 
son's  productions. 

At  the  time  of  Mary  Ball's  sojourn  in  England,  Hudson 
had  a  summer  residence  in  Berkshire  County,  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  residences  of  the  Washingtons  and  Balls. 
May  not  one  of  the  latter  have  employed  him  to  paint  the 
portrait  of  their  charming  Virginia  kinswoman  ?  Professor 
Morse  expressed  his  strong  conviction  that  this  picture  is  a 
portrait  of  Mary  Ball,  which  had  somehow  fallen  into  the 
possession  of  Mrs.  Morer,  and  through  Mr.  Field  and  Mr. 
Harvey  had  come  to  him.  And  so  satisfied  am  I  by  the 
weight  of  concurrent  testimony  that  it  is  a  portrait  of  the 
pretty  Virginia  girl  whom  Augustine  Washington  married 
in  1730,  that  I  venture  to  offer  a  copy  of  it  in  this  volume 
as  a  genuine  likeness  of  the  person  of  the  mother  of  Wash 
ington. 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE  home  plantation  of  Augustine  Washington  stretched 
along  the  Potomac  River  more  than  a  mile  between  Pope's 
and  Bridge's  creeks.  The  river  is  there  a  broad  stream, 
and  was  then  largely  fringed  by  the  primeval  forest.  Its 
waters  abounded  with  the  choicest  fishes.  This  farm  of  a 
thousand  acres  was  in  the  northern  part  of  Westmoreland 
County,  a  narrow  shire  afterwards  distinguished  as  the 
birthplace  of  two  Presidents  of  the  United  States  (Washing 
ton  and  Monroe)  and  of  several  Lees  who  were  prominent 
actors  in  the  early  history  of  our  republic.  Of  these,  Rich 
ard  Henry  Lee,  author  of  the  resolution  for  independence 
offered  in  the  Congress  in  1776;  Arthur  Lee,  M.D.,  a  dip 
lomatic  agent  for  the  Continental  Congress  abroad ;  and 
"  Legion  Harry,"  a  brave  and  dashing  young  cavalry  leader 
in  the  old  war  for  independence,  were  the  most  conspicuous. 

The  dwelling  to  which  Mr.  Washington  took  his  young 
wife  was  a  very  modest  one,  yet  it  ranked  among  the  best 
of  Virginia  farm-houses  at  that  time.  It  had  four  rooms 
and  a  spacious  attic,  with  an  enormous  chimney  at  each 
end.  On  the  river  front  was  a  piazza.  It  was  perfectly 
plain  at  all  points.  The  only  approach  to  ornamentation 
was  a  Dutch  tiled  chimney-piece  in  the  "best  room." 

The  bride  found  at  her  new  home  a  middle-aged  kins 
woman  of  her  husband  in  charge  of  his  two  fine  boys,  Law 
rence  and  Augustine.  There  was  an  ample  supply  of  men 


28         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

and  women  servants.  The  rooms  were  neatly  furnished, 
and  in  one  of  them  was  a  small  collection  of  books,  chiefly 
devotional  in  character.  Among  them  was  a  copy  of  Sir 
Mathew  Hale's  "  Contemplations,  Moral  and  Divine,"  on 
the  fly-leaf  of  which  Augustine's  first  wife  had  written  her 
name  in  bold  characters.  Immediately  under  this  signature 
the  new  mistress  of  the  household  wrote  "  and  Mary  Wash 
ington,"  in  an  equally  bold  hand.  I  saw  this  volume  and 
copied  the  signatures  many  years  ago,  at  Mount  Vernon. 
From  that  volume  the  mother  of  Washington  undoubtedly 
drew,  as  from  a  living  well  of  sweet  water,  many  of  the 
maxims  which  she  instilled  into  the  mind  of  her  first-born, 
who  became  illustrious.  It  was  in  this  modest  home  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac  that  Mary  Washington  gave  birth  to 
that  son  in  the  winter  of  1732. 

The  blessings  of  children  were  rapidly  showered  upon  the 
happy  couple,  and  filled  their  hearts  with  joy.  Their  sec 
ond  child  (Elizabeth)  was  born  in  June,  1733,  and  their 
third  child  in  November,  1734.  On  a  breezy  morning  in 
April,  the  next  year,  while  servants  were  burning  some  refuse 
in  the  garden,  near  the  house,  some  sparks  fell  upon  the 
dry  shingles  of  the  low  roof  of  the  dwelling  and  set  it  on 
fire.  While  servants  were  vainly  endeavoring  to  quench 
the  flames,  the  mistress  with  her  cook  and  maid  removed 
all  the  furniture  to  a  safe  distance.  The  master  was  absent 
at  the  time.  When  he  returned  at  noon,  his  home  was  a 
heap  of  ashes,  and  the  family  dined  in  the  kitchen — a  small 
cabin  near  by. 

Prosperity  had  blessed  the  happy  pair.  Frugality  and 
industry  had  prevailed  in  the  household.  Augustine  Wash 
ington  had  managed  his  affairs  prudently.  He  had  added 


WASHINGTON  S    FIRST   SCHOOL-TEACHER.  29 

acre  to  acre,  and  possessed  lands  in  adjoining  counties. 
He  owned  an  estate  in  Stafford  County,  nearly  opposite 
Fredericksburg,  and  on  it  was  a  dwelling  almost  exactly  like 
the  one  which  had  been  consumed.  It  stood  on  the  brow 
of  a  steep  slope  of  the  left  bank  of  the  Rappahannock 
River,  in  sight  of  the  town.  Thither  Mr.  Washington  con- 


THE   WASHINGTON   RESIDENCE   NEAR    FREDERICKSBURG. 

veyed  his  family,  and  there  he  made  his  home  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  It  was  in  Overwharton  parish.  One 
of  the  chapels  of  that  parish  was  near  the  residence  of 
Washington.  The  sexton  of  the  chapel  was  Master  Hobby, 
the  first  school-teacher  of  George  Washington.  He  reigned 
over  an  "  old  field  "  school-house — a  log  building — as  a  ped 
agogue  for  many  years.  He  had  a  sort  of  b'ullet  head  and 
a  vast  amount  of  self-esteem.  Master  Hobby  was  regarded 
with  great  reverence  by  his  pupils  as  "wondrous  wise," 
and  as  they  gazed  at  him  while  quaint  words  of  wisdom 

dropped  from  his  lips, 

' '  Still  the  wonder  grew 
How  his  small  head  could  carry  all  he  knew." 

When  Master  Hobby  became  an  old  man  he  often  boasted 
that  he  was  "  the  making  of  General  Washington." 


3O         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

At  their  Stafford  home  Augustine  and  Mary  Washington 
enjoyed  their  sweet  domestic  life  for  eight  years  longer,  and 
there  three  more  children  were  born — John  Augustine,  in 
January,  1736;  Charles,  in  May,  1738;  and  Mildred,  in  June, 
1739.  Mildred  died  in  the  autumn  of  the  next  year. 

Nearly  eighty  years  after  the  birthplace  of  George  Wash 
ington  was  destroyed,  his  foster-son,  the  late  George  Wash 
ington  Parke  Custis,  placed  a  memorial  stone  on  the  site 
of  the  dwelling,  bearing  the  following  inscription  : 


It  was  on  a  beautiful  June  day  in  1815  when  Mr.  Custis 
and  three  other  gentlemen  sailed  from  Alexandria  in  his 
own  little  vessel,  with  the  memorial  stone  wrapped  in  an 
American  flag,  and  landing  at  a  convenient  place,  bore  it 
to  the  destined  spot.  They  gathered  a  few  bricks  from  the 
ruins  of  one  of  the  ancient  chimneys  and  constructed  a  rude 
pedestal  on  which  they  laid  the  stone  in  a  recumbent  posi 
tion.  With  a  few  words  Mr.  Custis  commended  this  first 
monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  Washington  to  the  care 
of  the  American  people  and  the  citizens  of  Westmoreland 
in  particular. 


DEATH    OF    WASHINGTON'S    FATHER.  31 

When  I  visited  the  spot  many  years  ago,  it  was  a  scene 
of  desolation.  There  was  a  solitary  chimney  standing  like 
a  guardian  of  the  place.  The  memorial  stone  was  broken 
and  almost  concealed  by  tangled  vines,  briers,  and  rank 
weeds,  and  all  around  the  hallowed  spot  were  wild  shrubs, 
the  remains  of  some  fig-trees,  with  here  and  there  a  stunted 
cedar  sapling.  The  vault  of  the  Washington  family,  at 
Bridge's  Creek,  nearly  a  mile  distant,  was  in  an  open  field, 
and  so  dilapidated  that  some  of  the  remains  were  exposed 
to  view ;  and  near  by  were  broken  slabs  with  the  names  of 
some  of  the  Washingtons  inscribed  upon  them,  which  had 
been  set  up  as  mementos  of  affection  and  respect.  The 
vault  could  be  distinguished  only  by  the  top  of  a  brick  arch 
rising  just  above  the  ground.  The  old  Pope's  Creek  church 
in  which  the  first  three  children  of  Mary  Washington  had 
been  baptized  had  long  since  fallen  into  ruin. 

One  day  early  in  April,  1743,  Mr.  Washington  rode  sev 
eral  hours  in  a  cold  rain  storm.  He  became  drenched  and 
chilled.  Before  midnight  he  was  tortured  with  terrible 
pains,  for  his  exposure  had  brought  on  a  fierce  attack  of 
hereditary  gout.  The  next  day  he  was  burned  with  fever. 
His  malady  ran  its  course  rapidly,  and  on  the  i2th  he  died 
at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  His  body  was  laid  in  the 
family  vault  at  Bridge's  Creek. 

This  sudden  and  unexpected  affliction  tried  the  character 
of  Mary  Washington  by  a  sharp  ordeal.  She  was  then 
thirty-seven  years  of  age.  Her  brave  heart  never  failed  her. 
She  endured  the  stroke  without  a  murmur  and  with  calm 
fortitude.  She  submitted  to  the  Divine  Will  with  the 
strength  of  a  philosopher  and  the  trustfulness  of  a  Chris 
tian.  None  knew  the  depth  of  her  anguish  from  outward 


32         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

manifestations,  nor  the  poignancy  of  the  grief  that  assailed 
her  heart  and  mind  by  any  uttered  word.  With  sublime 
dependence  on  Omnipotence — with 

"  Heart  within  and  God  o'erhead — " 

she  seemed  alike  indifferent  to  the  smitings  of  affliction  and 
the  tenderness  of  human  sympathy.  Above  all  the  tumult 
of  emotion  she  heard  the  commands  of  Duty  and  obeyed 
them.  She  had  five  children  of  her  own,  the  eldest  (George) 
only  eleven  years  of  age,  who  were  left  to  her  sole  care  and 
guidance.  She  also  had  two  step-sons  (Lawrence  and  Au 
gustine)  who  had  grown  to  manhood,  but  who  yet  looked 
reverently  to  her  for  the  wise  counsel  and  advice  with  which 
she  had  ever  directed  them. 

Augustine  Washington  left  an  ample  estate  for  his  widow 
and  children.  Each  of  his  sons  inherited  from  him  a  sep 
arate  farm.  To  the  eldest,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an 
estate  near  Hunting  Creek,  afterwards  called  Mount  Ver- 
non,  which  then  consisted  of  twenty- five  hundred  acres, 
and  also  other  lands,  and  shares  in  productive  iron-works 
situated  in  Virginia  and  Maryland.  The  second  son  (Au 
gustine)  had  for  his  part  the  "home  farm"  in  Westmoreland. 
To  George  he  left  the  lands  and  home  where  his  father 
lived  at  the  time  of  his  death,  near  Fredericksburg,  and  to 
each  of  his  other  sons  a  landed  estate  of  six  or  seven  hun 
dred  acres.  He  made  a  suitable  provision  for  his  surviving 
daughter,  Elizabeth.  The  whole  family  were  left  in  a  state 
of  comparative  independence.  Having  confidence  in  the 
prudence  of  their  mother,  he  directed  that  the  proceeds  of 
all  the  property  of  her  children  should  be  at  her  disposal 
until  they  should  attain  their  majority. 


CHARACTER    OF    MARY    WASHINGTON.  33 

The  energies  of  Mary  Washington  were  now  wholly  de 
voted  to  the  welfare  of  her  family.  She  directed  the  edu 
cation  of  her  children  largely  at  her  knee  and  sometimes 
by  the  aid  of  private  tutors.  She  regulated  their  amuse 
ments  and  physical  exercises,  so  as  to  secure  bodily  health 
and  energy.  She  taught  them  to  be  obedient  and  self-re 
liant;  to  be  industrious,  honest,  just,  and  truthful  ;  to  love 
God  supremely  and  their  kind  tenderly,  and  to  be  good  and 
generous  to  all  living  creatures.  She  held  a  firm  hand  in 
the  enforcement  of  discipline,  but  it  was  never  otherwise 
than  kindly  in  its  operations.  There  was  a  dignity,  a  maj 
esty,  and  a  benignity  in  her  mien  and  deportment  at  all 
times  which  inspired  beholders  with  respect,  awe,  love,  and 
admiration,  such  as  afterwards  distinguished  her  illustrious 
first-born  son.  Lawrence  Washington,  of  Chotank,  wrote 
towards  the  close  of  the  last  century : 

"  I  was  often  here  [at  the  home  on  the  Rappahannock] 
with  George,  his  playmate,  schoolmate,  and  young  man's 
companion.  Of  the  mother  I  was  more  afraid  than  of  my 
own  parents ;  she  awed  me  in  the  midst  of  her  kindness ; 
and  even  now,  when  time  has  whitened  my  locks,  and  I  am 
the  grandfather  of  a  second  generation,  I  could  not  behold 
that  majestic  woman  without  feelings  it  is  impossible  to 
describe." 

Others  bore  similar  testimony  concerning  the  character  of 
this  noble  matron  ;  and  General  Washington  himself  attrib 
uted  his  success  in  life  to  the  moral,  intellectual,  and  phys 
ical  education  which  he  received  from  his  mother.  Indeed, 
experience  and  observation  teach  us  that  the  mother  gives 
tone  to  the  character  of  the  child.  To  the  latest  hour  of 
her  life  her  distinguished  son  regarded  her  not  only  with 

3 


34         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

the  most  grateful  filial  affection,  but  with  deferential  respect 
as  his  superior.  His  letters  to  her  when  in  the  public  serv 
ice  always  began  with  the  words  "  Honored  Madam,"  and 
he  addressed  her  with  the  same  deference  in  his  personal 
intercourse  with  her. 

Mary  Washington  corresponded  with  her  brother  Joseph, 
in  England,  quite  frequently  after  her  husband's  death,  for 
she  seems  to  have  relied  much  upon  his  judgment,  particu 
larly  in  matters  concerning  the  management  of  her  estate. 
In  a  letter  to  her,  written  at  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1743, 
he  appears  to  answer  some  questions  she  had  propounded 
to  him  concerning  a  settlement  with  her  step-son,  Lawrence 
Washington,  who,  on  July  iQth  the  same  year,  had  married 
Anne,  the  beautiful  and  accomplished  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
William  Fairfax,  and  was  settled  on  his  estate  near  Hunting 
Creek,  which  he  had  named  "  Mount  Vernon." 

Lawrence  seems  to  have  inherited  the  military  spirit  of 
the  Washington  family.  War  between  England  and  Spain 
was  raging  when  he  attained  his  majority.  Admiral  Ver 
non,  commander- in-chief  of  the  naval  forces  in  the  West 
Indies,  captured  Porto  Bello,  on  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  in 
1740.  Spain,  resolved  to  strike  England  an  avenging  blow, 
obtained  the  aid  of  France.  England  and  her  American 
colonies  were  aroused.  Four  regiments  for  service  in  the 
West  Indies  were  authorized  to  be  raised  in  the  colonies. 

With  the  approbation  of  his  father,  Lawrence  Washington 
obtained  a  captain's  commission  in  the  Virginia  regiment, 
and  embarked  for  the  West  Indies  in  1741,  to  serve  under 
General  Wentworth,  who,  with  Admiral  Vernon,  command 
ed  a  joint  land  and  naval  expedition  against  Cartagena,  in 
South  America.  That  expedition  was  most  disastrous. 


LAWRENCE  WASHINGTON   AND    MOUNT  VERNON.  35 

Fully  twenty  thousand  English  soldiers  and  seamen  per 
ished  by  a  pestilence  that  broke  out  among  them.  Law 
rence  Washington  escaped  with  his  life,  but  received  into 
his  system  the  seeds  of  a  malady  against  which  he  contend 
ed  for  ten  years,  and  then  yielded.  He  returned  in  1742. 
He  had  won  the  esteem  of  both  the  admiral  and  the  gen 
eral,  and  he  kept  up  a  correspondence  with  the  former  for 
several  years.  Lawrence  intended  to  go  to  England  and 
join  the  regular  army  and  seek  preferment,  but  love,  which 

" rules  the  court,  the  camp,  the  grove, 

And  man  below  and  saints  above," 

changed  his  destiny.  He  became  betrothed  to  the  beauti 
ful  Anne.  The  nuptials  were  about  to  be  celebrated,  when 
his  father  died,  and  they  were  postponed  until  midsummer. 


THE   FIRST   MANSION   AT   MOUNT   VERNON. 


He  erected  a  plain,  substantial  mansion  on  the  highest  emi 
nence  along  the  Potomac  front  of  his  estate,  nearly  one  hun 
dred  feet  above  the  river.  The  house  was  two  stories  in 
height,  had  four  rooms  on  each  floor,  and  dormer  windows 


36         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

in  the  gambrel  roof  to  light  a  spacious  garret.  It  had  a 
small  porch  in  front,  and  a  chimney  at  each  end,  built  inside, 
contrary  to  the  prevailing  custom.  In  honor  of  the  gallant 
admiral  he  named  this  beautiful  seat  Mount  Vernon. 

Mary  Washington's  eldest  son,  George,  grew  up  a  sturdy 
youth ;  well  -  proportioned  in  person,  healthful  and  strong 
from  much  out-of-door  exercise,  courageous,  obedient,  and 
truthful.  Mr.  Custis  relates  that  when  Washington  was  a 
lad  he  attempted  to  tame  a  valuable  and  vicious  young 
horse  which  had  grown  almost  to  maturity  unbroken,  and 
was  highly  prized  by  Madam  Washington  because  it  was 
of  a  blooded  race  which  her  husband  had  bred.  He  was  a 
sorrel  colt,  of  a  fierce  and  ungovernable  nature,  and  it  was 
generally  believed  he  could  not  be  tamed.  Early  one  sum 
mer  morning,  young  Washington  and  two  or  three  boys  who 
were  visiting  him  were  admiring  the  pretty  colt  in  the  field, 
when  George  said  if  they  would  assist  him  in  confining  the 
animal  and  putting  a  bridle-bit  in  his  mouth,  he  would  mount 
him.  It  was  done.  The  colt  was  driven  into  a  small  en 
closure,  the  bridle  was  securely  adjusted,  and  young  Wash 
ington  bestrode  his  back.  The  startled  and  angered  beast, 
loosed  from  his  thrall,  rushed  madly  into  the  field,  but  was 
soon  curbed  by  the  strong  arms  of  the  boy  on  his  back,  rid 
ing  without  a  saddle.  Then  there  was  a  fearful  struggle, 
the  colt  rearing  and  plunging  in  vain  efforts  to  dislodge  his 
rider.  Finally,  making  a  desperate  effort,  the  colt  burst  a 
blood-vessel  and  fell,  dying,  to  the  ground. 

The  group  of  boys,  excepting  George,  were  greatly  alarm 
ed  by  this  event.  While  the  others  were  debating  what  to 
say  to  Madam  Washington,  George  had  instantly  decided 
what  to  do— be  courageous,  frank,  and  truthful.  They  were 


YOUNG   WASHINGTON   AND   AN    UNTAMED   COLT.  37 


YOUNG  WASHINGTON  AND  THE  COLT. 


soon  summoned  to  breakfast.     The  mother,  ignorant  of  what 
had  happened,  said  to  the  boys,  in  a  cheerful  manner, 

"Pray,  young  gentlemen,  have  you  seen  my  blooded  colts 
in  your  rambles  ?  I  hope  they  are  well  taken  care  of  j  my 
favorite,  I  am  told,  is  as  large  as  his  sire." 


38          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

There  was  much  embarrassment  among  the  lads  when 
the  question  was  repeated.  George  immediately  replied, 

"  Your  favorite,  madam,  is  dead." 

"  Dead  !"  she  exclaimed  ;  "  how  has  this  happened  ?" 

"  That  sorrel  horse,"  said  George,  in  a  calm  tone  of  voice, 
"has  long  been  considered  ungovernable,  and  beyond  the 
power  of  man  to  tame  him.  We  forced  a  bit  into  his  mouth 
this  morning.  I  mounted  him  and  rode  him  around  the 
field,  and  in  a  desperate  struggle  for  the  mastery  he  broke 
a  blood-vessel,  fell  under  me,  and  died." 

The  mother's  cheek  flushed  for  a  moment,  when  she  said 
to  her  boy, 

"  It  is  well ;  but  while  I  regret  the  loss  of  my  favorite 
animal,  I  rejoice  in  my  son  who  always  speaks  the  truth." 

This  incident  vividly  illustrates  the  character  of  both  the 
mother  and  her  son. 

Little  George  Washington  was  a  much  petted  visitor  at 
Mount  Vernon,  for  Lawrence  loved  him  tenderly,  and  after 
their  father's  death  he  took  a  parental  interest  in  his  affairs. 
He  was  under  his  brother's  roof  much  of  the  time.  There 
and  at  Belvoir,  the  elegant  seat  of  the  Fairfaxes,  the  spright 
ly  boy  was  a  favorite,  and  he  enjoyed  the  great  advantage 
of  being  in  a  refined  social  circle,  where  he  became  accus 
tomed,  at  that  susceptible  period  of  his  life,  to  the  amenities 
of  English  society  in  its  best  phases.  This  had  a  marked 
influence  upon  his  future  character.  At  Mount  Vernon  his 
brother's  companions-in-arms  and  naval  officers  were  fre 
quent  guests.  Their  conversation  upon  martial  deeds 
stimulated  the  inborn  military  spirit  of  the  lad  and  an  in 
tense  desire  for  adventure.  Lawrence  and  Fairfax  both 
encouraged  the  emotion. 


YOUNG    WASHINGTON    AND    THE    BRITISH    NAVY.  39 

Believing  the  British  navy  to  be  a  promising  field  for  the 
advancement  of  young  Washington,  Lawrence  proposed  to 
his  mother  that  he  enter  it.  Her  maternal  feelings  recoiled 
from  the  contemplation.  George  was  her  first-born  child, 
and  gave  great  promise  of  comfort  to  her.  She  was  willing 
to  make  any  reasonable  self-sacrifice  for  his  benefit,  yet 
she  could  not  endure  the  thought  of  surrendering  him  at 
that  tender  age  to  the  rough  life  and  the  temptations  to 
which  he  would  be  exposed,  beyond  the  influence  of  a 
mother's  tender  care  and  advice.  She  hesitated  long,  but 
the  earnest  pleadings  of  the  boy  and  the  assurance  of 
friends,  especially  of  her  physician,  Dr.  Spencer,  that  the 
step  would  redound  to  his  great  advantage,  together  with 
her  own  strong  desire  to  be  dutiful  and  just,  caused  her  to 
finally  yield  her  reluctant  consent.  Late  in  1746,  when 
George  was  nearly  fourteen  years  of  age,  Lawrence  pro 
cured  for  him  a  midshipman's  warrant. 

The  ensuing  winter  was  passed  in  joyous  preparations  by 
young  Washington  for  entering  upon  his  new  sphere  in  life. 
At  times  his  mother's  fortitude  became  very  weak.  An  in 
timate  friend  of  the  family  at  Fredericksburg  (Robert  Jack 
son)  wrote  to  Lawrence  : 

"  I  am  afraid  Mrs.  Washington  will  not  keep  up  to  her 
first  resolution.  She  seems  to  dislike  George's  going  to 
sea,  and  says  several  persons  have  told  her  it  was  a  bad 
scheme.  She  offers  several  trifling  objections,  such  as  a 
fond,  unthinking  mother  habitually  suggests,  and  I  find 
that  one  word  against  his  going  has  more  weight  than  ten 
for  it." 

At  this  juncture  a  letter  received  from  her  brother  in 
London,  dated  May  19,  1747,  settled  the  matter.  He  wrote  : 


40  MARY,  THE    MOTHER    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"I  understand  that  you  are  advised  and  have  some 
thoughts  of  putting  your  son  George  to  sea.  I  think  he 
had  better  be  put  apprentice  to  a  tinker,  for  a  common  sail 
or  before  the  mast  has  by  no  means  the  common  liberty  of 
the  subject ;  for  they  will  press  him  from  ship  to  ship, 
where  he  has  fifty  shillings  a  month,  and  make  him  take 
twenty-three,  and  cut  and  slash  and  use  him  like  a  negro,  or 
rather  like  a  clog.  And  as  to  any  considerable  preferment 
in  the  navy,  it  is  not  to  be  expected,  as  there  are  always  so 
many  gaping  for  it  here  who  have  interest,  and  he  has  none. 
And  if  he  should  get  to  be  master  of  a  Virginia  ship  (which 
it  is  very  difficult  to  do),  a  planter  who  has  three  or  four 
hundred  acres  of  land  and  three  or  four  slaves,  if  he  be  in 
dustrious,  may  live  more  comfortably,  and  leave  his  family 
in  better  bread  than  such  a  master  of  a  ship  can.  .  .  .  He 
must  not  be  too  hasty  to  be  rich,  but  go  on  gently  and  with 
patience,  as  things  will  naturally  go.  This  method,  without 
aiming  at  being  a  fine  gentleman  before  his  time,  will  carry 
a  man  more  comfortably  and  surely  through  the  world  than 
going  to  sea,  unless  it  be  a  great  chance  indeed.  I  pray 
God  keep  you  and  yours. 

"  Your  loving  brother, 

"JOSEPH  BALL." 

The  writer  of  this  letter  evidently  mistook  the  intended 
destination  of  the  boy,  supposing  it  to  be  the  merchant  in 
stead  of  the  naval  service ;  but  his  argument  was  so  cogent 
and  so  congenial  to  her  feelings  that  Madam  Washington 
resolved  not  to  let  her  son  go  to  sea.  When  this  letter  ar 
rived,  young  Washington  was  at  the  point  of  departure  in  a 
British  ship-of-war  lying  in  the  Potomac.  His  luggage  was 
on  board.  His  mother's  later  decision,  kindly  but  firmly 
communicated,  greatly  disappointed  her  son,  but  with  filial 


THE    DESTINY    OF    WASHINGTON.  41 

love  and  ready  obedience  he  acquiesced  and  returned  to  his 
studies.  He  was  destined  by  Heaven  for  a  far  nobler  ca 
reer  than  man  had  conceived  for  him. 

This  incident  illustrates  the  truth  of  the  familiar  apo 
thegm,  "  Man  proposes  but  God  disposes." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

UNSELFISH,  generous,  and  wise,  Mary  Washington  most 
cheerfully  allowed  her  son  to  leave  the  shelter  of  her  roof 
and  her  absolute  paternal  guidance,  before  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  to  engage  in  an  arduous  and  even  perilous  pur 
suit  for  which  his  later  studies  had  fitted  him.  He  had  a 
decided  taste  for  mathematics.  A  private  tutor  (Master 
Williams)  was  employed  to  teach  him  the  science,  and  young 
Washington's  practical  mind  soon  developed  in  him  a  genius 
for  its  profitable  use.  When  he  left  school  he  lived  almost 
continually  with  his  half-brother  Lawrence,  at  Mount  Vernon, 
and  with  the  Fairfaxes,  at  Belvoir.  By  persistent  study  and 
home  practice  he  became  an  expert  land-surveyor,  a  profes 
sion  then  much  employed  and  well  remunerated  in  Virginia. 

Lord  Thomas  Fairfax,  a  tall,  quaint,  near-sighted  man, 
sixty  years  of  age,  who  had  been  made  misanthropic  by  dis 
appointment  in  a  love-affair  in  early  life,  was  now  in  Vir 
ginia.  He  owned  immense  tracts  of  land  in  the  rich  valleys 
of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  He  had  been  educated  at 
Oxford,  and  was  a  contributor  to  Addison's  Spectator.  Re 
solved  to  live  in  seclusion,  he  built  a  lodge  in  the  midst 
of  ten  thousand  acres  in  the  wilderness,  which  he  called 
"  Greenway  Court,"  as  preliminary  to  the  erection  of  a 
manor-house.  He  was  an  inveterate  fox-hunter,  and  enter 
tained  with  generous  hospitality  all  visitors,  especially  dev 
otees  of  the  chase. 


LORD    FAIRFAX   AT    GREENWAY   COURT.  43 

Young  Washington  became  a  favorite  of  Lord  Thomas. 
He  was  athletic,  possessed  of  great  powers  of  endurance, 
was  fond  of  hunting  and  expert  in  the  chase,  and  he  soon 
became  useful  to  his  lordship  as  a  surveyor  of  his  lands. 
Many  and  long  were  the  pursuits  of  Lord  Fairfax  and  his 
bright  young  companion  after  the  fox  and  the  deer,  until 
the  youth  was  called  into  the  public  service  at  a  time  peril 
ous  to  the  English  settlers  in  Virginia. 

Fairfax  continued  to  live  at  Greenway  Court  during  the 
storms  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  and  the  Revolution, 
and  died  there,  early  in  1782,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 
He  was  a  stanch  loyalist.  When  he  heard  of  the  surren 
der  of  Cornwallis  to  his  young  friend  Washington,  he  said 
to  his  favorite  body-servant,  "  Come,  Joe,  put  me  to  bed,  for 
I'm  sure  it  is  high  time  for  me  to  die !"  He  soon  after 
wards  expired.  His  death  was  commemorated  in  a  ballad : 

"  Then  up  rose  Joe  all  at  the  word, 

And  took  his  master's  arm, 
And  to  his  bed  he  softly  led 

The  lord  of  Greenway  Farm. 
Then  thrice  he  called  on  Britain's  name, 

And  thrice  he  wept  full  sore  ; 
Then  sighed,  '  Oh,  Lord,  thy  will  be  done/ 

And  word  spake  nevermore  !" 

At  the  age  of  about  sixteen,  young  Washington  was  ap 
pointed  to  the  honorable  and  lucrative  office  of  public  sur 
veyor.  He  made  his  home  with  his  brother  at  Mount  Ver- 
non,  because  it  was  nearer  the  scene  of  his  labors,  but  he 
often  visited  his  mother,  and  gave  her  great  assistance  in 
the  superintendence  of  her  affairs.  When  he  was  about 
nineteen  years  old  he  was  commissioned  a  major  by  Gov- 


44 


MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 


ernor  Dinwiddie,  of  Virginia,  and  placed  in  charge  of  a  mil 
itary  district,  with  a  salary  of  $750  a  year.  His  duty  was  to 
drill  the  people  in  military  tactics,  for  the  French  and  In 
dians  on  the  Virginia  frontier  were  showing  signs  of  positive 
hostility  to  the  English.  He  had  just  entered  upon  this 
duty  when  the  failing  health  of  Lawrence  compelled  that 
gentleman,  by  the  advice  of  his  physician,  to  seek  its  resto 
ration  in  the  West  Indies. 
He  desired  George  to  ac 
company  him.  They  start 
ed  for  Barbadoes  in  Sep 
tember,  1751. 

The  relief  sought  was 
not  obtained.  His  malady 
increased,  and  as  soon  as 
George  recovered  from  an 
attack  of  small -pox,  Law 
rence  sent  him  home  for 
his  wife.  A  letter  was 
soon  received  from  Law 
rence  conveying  the  sad 
intelligence  that  he  was 
no  better,  and  would  im 
mediately  return  to  his 
home  in  Virginia.  He  ar 
rived  there  at  near  midsummer,  1752,  and  died  in  July,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-four  years.  His  remains  were  deposited 
in  a  vault  which  he  had  constructed  at  Mount  Vernon. 

Three  of  Lawrence's  four  children  had  died  in  infancy. 
To  the  survivor,  a  daughter,  he  bequeathed  the  Mount 
.Vernon  estate,  with  the  proviso  that,  in  the  event  of  her 


LAWRENCE   WASHINGTON. 


ELIZABETH    WASHINGTON    AND    FIELDING    LEWIS.  45 

death  without  issue,  its  domain  and  other  lands  should 
become  the  property  of  his  half-brother  George.  That 
contingency  soon  occurred.  The  estate  of  Mount  Vernon, 
with  the  paternal  plantation  on  the  Rappahannock,  caused 
George  Washington  to  rank  among  the  wealthiest  land 
owners  in  Virginia. 

Meanwhile  the  mother  of  Washington  had  been  carefully 
training  the  remainder  of  her  children  for  the  duties  of  life, 
and  had  managed  her  estate  with  great  judgment.  When 
the  French  and  Indian  War  ended  (1760),  in  which  her  first 
born  had  gained  much  renown,  her  children  were  all  young 
men  and  women.  Elizabeth,  her  second  child,  grew  to  wom 
anhood  beautiful,  majestic  in  person,  and  lovely  in  mental 
and  moral  qualities.  Later  in  life  she  so  much  resembled 
her  brother  George  that,  putting  on  his  long  military  cloak 
and  his  chapeau,  she  would  often  deceive  her  most  intimate 
friends,  who  mistook  her  for  the  general.  Elizabeth  (com 
monly  called  Betty)  became  the  second  wife  of  Colonel 
Fielding  Lewis,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Fredericksburg,  who 
owned  half  the  town  and  much  adjoining  territory.  He  was 
an  ardent  patriot,  and  during  the  war  for  independence  he 
superintended  the  manufacture  of  arms  at  Fredericksburg. 
The  site  of  this  establishment  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town 
near  the  railway  is  known  as  "  Gunney  Green." 

Mr.  Lewis  was  the  first  mayor  of  Fredericksburg,  a  local 
magistrate  for  many  years,  and  often  represented  his  district 
in  the  Virginia  Legislature.  He  built  an  elegant  and  spa 
cious  mansion  for  his  young  bride  on  the  border  of  the  vil 
lage,  which  is  still  known  as  the  "  Kenmore  House."  It 
was  built  in  the  most  substantial  manner  and  of  the  best 
materials,  It  was  tastefully  ornamented  within  and  without, 


46         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

and  adorned  with  frescos  by  artists  brought  from  England 
for  the  purpose.  Its  beauty  has  faded,  but  it  still  attracts 
visitors  because  of  its  associations  with  the  family  of  Wash 
ington.  There  Colonel  Lewis  died,  about  a  month  before 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  late  in  1781,  at  the  age  of  for 
ty-five  years.  His  son  George  was  commander  of  Washing 
ton's  Life  Guard  at  one  time. 

The  kindling  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  disturbed  the 
repose  of  the  mother  of  Washington,  for  her  eldest  son  be 
came  actively  engaged  in  it  from  the  beginning.  Involving 
as  it  did  his  personal  safety  and  his  reputation,  his  mother's 
mind  was  filled  with  keenest  anxiety,  which  at  times  amount 
ed  to  actual  alarm  and  distress. 

Before  the  gathering  tempest  of  war  burst  forth,  young 
Washington  had  been  engaged  in  a  most  arduous  and  peril 
ous  public  mission.  The  building  of  forts  by  the  French 
in  the  Indian  country  south  of  Lake  Erie  alarmed  the  Eng 
lish  colonists,  especially  those  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia, 
whose  frontiers  were  in  that  region,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
1753  the  vigilant  Governor  Dinwiddie,*  of  the  latter  prov 
ince,  resolved  to  send  a  letter  of  remonstrance  to  the 
French  commander,  St.  Pierre.  It  was  a  mission  requiring 


*  Robert  Dinwiddie  was  born  in  Scotland  about  1690.  He  was  ap 
pointed  Governor  of  Virginia  in  1752.  He  had  been  surveyor  of  the 
customs  of  the  colony  and  a  member  of  the  council  as  early  as  1742. 
He  was  an  irritable,  ambitious,  and  grasping  man,  and  when  he  left 
Virginia,  early  in  1758,  "worn  out  with  vexation  and  age,"  he  was 
charged  by  his  enemies  (and  these  were  legion)  with  having  converted 
to  his  own  use  a  very  large  sum  of  money  transmitted  through  his  hands 
by  the  imperial  government  for  reimbursement  of  moneys  expended  by 
the  colonists.  He  died  in  England  in  1770. 


WASHINGTON    ON    A    PERILOUS    MISSION. 


47 


courage,  diplomatic  skill,  vigilance,  and  wisdom,  and  the 
governor  chose  Major  Washington,  then  not  twenty -two 
years  of  age,  for  the  important  task.  He  was  summoned  to 
Williamsburg  at  near  the  close  of  October,  stopping  to 
visit  his  mother  on  his  way  thither.  His  sister  Betty,  who 
was  present  at  that  interview,  wrote  to  a  friend  that  the 
deportment  of  their  mother  on  that  occasion  was  admi 
rable.  Although  her  mind  was  evidently  filled  with  the 
deepest  anxiety — for  she  could  imagine  the  fearful  perils 
to  which  her  son  would  be  exposed — perils  by  storm  and 
flood,  and  barbarians  incited  to  violence  by  Gallic  enemies — 
she  manifested  no  uncom 
mon  emotion.  Calm,  dig 
nified,  and  serious,  as  usu 
al,  in  her  demeanor,  she 
had  an  unfathomable  depth 
of  affection  for  her  chil 
dren,  but  it  was  always 
subordinate  to  duty.  As 
her  son  arose  to  depart,  she 
laid  her  hand  gently  upon 
his  broad  shoulder,  and 
said,  with  an  unfaltering 
voice,  "Remember,  George, 
God  only  is  our  sure  trust ; 
to  him  1  commend  you." 

With  Jacob  Vanbraam,  his  Dutch  fencing-master,  as  inter 
preter,  and  five  or  six  other  men,  Major  Washington  de 
parted  on  the  last  day  of  October,  and  returned  to  Williams- 
burg  forty-one  days  afterwards  with  his  mission  so  admirably 
executed  that  he  received  the  plaudits  of  the  governor  and 


48         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

the  council.  Terrible  had  been  the  sufferings  of  the  little 
party  in  crossing  the  rugged  mountains  piled  with  snows, 
thridding  tangled,  half-frozen  morasses,  and  crossing  swollen 
streams  made  more  savage  by  floating  ice.  Washington 
hastened  to  his  mother  to  give  her  the  earliest  assurance  of 
his  safety,  and  then  proceeded  to  Mount  Vernon,  where  he 
passed  the  winter. 

The  French  continued  their  threatening  attitude.  Indeed 
it  became  more  so  on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Ohio ;  and  in 
the  spring  of  1754  a  Virginia  force,  of  which  Washington 
was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel,  was  sent  into  that  region 
as  an  army  of  observation  or  defence,  as  circumstances 
might  decide.  With  the  first  division  he  left  Alexandria  on 
the  2d  of  April  and  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge.  Some  severe 
encounters  with  the  enemy  ensued,  and  the  Virginians  were 
defeated.  The  conduct  of  Washington  was  highly  ap 
proved;  but  new  military  arrangements  made  by  wrong- 
headed  Governor  Dinwiddie  so  disgusted  him  that  he  threw 
up  his  commission  and  retired  to  Mount  Vernon. 

England  declared  war  against  France,  and  early  in  1755 
General  Braddock,  a  distinguished  Irish  military  leader, 
arrived  at  Alexandria  with  a  small  force  of  regular  troops. 
From  every  lip  he  heard  of  the  merits  of  young  Colonel 
Washington.  He  invited  him  to  Alexandria.  The  colonel 
had  seen,  from  his  porch  at  Mount  Vernon,  the  British  ships 
of  war  and  transports  on  the  bosom  of  the  Potomac.  His 
military  ardor  was  kindled  anew,  and  he  obeyed  the  sum 
mons  with  great  alacrity.  The  veteran  and  the  provincial 
met  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Carey,  when  Braddock  in 
vited  Colonel  Washington  to  enter  his  military  family  with 
the  same  rank  he  had  lately  borne. 


WASHINGTON    AND    GENERAL    BRADDOCK.  49 

Washington  returned  to  Mount  Vernon  to  consider  the 
matter.  There  he  found  his  mother,  who,  having  heard  of 
the  invitation  of  the  British  commander,  had  hastened  to 
Mount  Vernon  to  persuade  her  son  not  to  accept  it.  She 
pleaded  with  all  the  earnestness  and  pathos  of  a  mother's 
love.  She  gave  weighty  reasons  why  he  should  decline  the 
proffered  honor,  among  them  the  urgent  claims  of  her  own 
and  his  affairs,  upon  his  attentions.  For  nearly  two  days 
she  kept  his  decision  in  abeyance. 

Filial  obedience  was  one  of  the  strongest  qualities  of 
Washington's  character.  To  gain  his  mother's  free  consent 
he  urged  the  plea  with  equal  earnestness  that  the  require 
ments  of  his  country  at  that  crisis  and  his  sense  of  duty 
demanded  that  he  should  make  a  sacrifice  of  private  feel 
ings  and  interests  to  the  public  welfare.  He  expressed  a 
belief  that  with  the  force  at  hand  the  enemy  would  be  driven 
away  with  very  little  bloodshed,  for  they  might  be  easily  dis 
comfited. 

"  The  God  to  whom  you  commended  me,  madam,  when 
I  set  out  on  a  more  perilous  errand,"  he  said,  "defended 
me  from  all  harm,  and  I  trust  he  will  do  so  now ;  do  you 
not?" 

This  last  appeal  carried  the  citadel  of  her  arguments,  and 
the  mother  yielded  her  assent,  but  returned  to  her  home  on 
the  Rappahannock  with  a  heavy  heart.  The  dutiful  son 
entered  the  military  family  of  General  Braddock,  and  on 
the  battle-field  of  the  Monongahela,  in  July  following,  when 
the  British  and  provincial  forces  were  vanquished  by  the 
French  and  Indians,  and  his  commander  was  mortally 
wounded,  Washington  was  the  only  one  of  sixty-five  officers 
who  escaped  death  or  wounds.  Conducting  a  masterly  re- 

4 


50         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

treat,  he  saved  the  remnant  of  the  little  army ;  and  he  read 
the  solemn  burial-service  of  the  Anglican  Church  by  torch 
light  when  the  body  of  Braddock  was  consigned  to  the 
earth. 

Certain  that  the  wildest  rumors  of  this  affair  would  speed 
ily  reach  the  ears  of  his  mother  and  greatly  distress  her, 
Washington  took  the  first  opportunity  to  write  to  her  and 
assure  her  of  his  safety.  From  Fort  Cumberland  he  sent 
the  following  letter,  written  on  July  i8th : 

"  HONORED  MADAM, — 

As  I  doubt  not  but  you  have  heard 

of  our  defeat,  and,  perhaps,  had  it  represented  in  a  worse 
light  than  it  deserves,  I  have  taken  this  earliest  opportunity 
to  give  you  some  account  of  the  engagement  as  it  happened 
within  ten  miles  of  the  French  fort,  on  the  Qth  instant." 

After  giving  an  account  of  the  action,  he  continued  : 

"  The  Virginia  troops  showed  a  good  deal  of  bravery,  and 
%were  nearly  all  killed  ;  for  I  believe  out  of  three  companies 
that  were  there,  scarcely  thirty  men  are  left  alive.  Captain 
Peyrouny  and  all  his  officers  down  to  a  corporal  were  killed. 
Captain  Poison  had  nearly  as  hard  a  fate,  for  only  one  of 
his  was  left.  In  short,  the  dastardly  behavior  of  those  they 
call  regulars  exposed  all  others,  that  were  inclined  to  dc 
their  duty,  to  almost  certain  death ;  and  at  last,  in  despite 
of  all  the  efforts  of  the  officers  to  the  contrary,  they  ran  as 
sheep  pursued  by  dogs,  and  it  was  impossible  to  rally  them. 

"  The  general  was  wounded,  of  which  he  died  three  days 
after.  Sir  Peter  Halket  was  killed  on  the  field  where  died 
many  other  brave  officers.  I  luckily  escaped  without  a 
wound,  though  I  had  four  bullets  through  my  coat  and  two 
horses  shot  under  me.  Captains  Orme  and  Morris,  two  of 


WASHINGTON    IN    THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    MONONGAHELA.    51 

the  aides-de-camp,  were  wounded  early  in  the  engagement, 
which  rendered  the  duty  hard  upon  me,  as  I  was  the  only 
person  then  left  to  distribute  the  general's  orders,  which  I 
was  scarcely  able  to  do,  as  I  was  not  half  recovered  from  a 
violent  illness  that  had  confined  me  to  my  bed  and  a  wagon 
for  above  ten  days.  I  am  still  in  a  weak  and  feeble  condi 
tion,  which  induces  me  to  halt  here  two  or  three  days  in  the 
hope  of  recovering  a  little  strength  to  enable  me  to  proceed 
homewards ;  from  whence,  I  fear,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  stir 
till  towards  September,  so  that  I  shall  not  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  you  till  then.  I  am,  honored  madam,  your  most 
dutiful  son." 

This  letter  was  timely,  and  greatly  relieved  the  mind  and 
heart  of  his  mother,  for  her  son's  death  had  been  reported. 
To  this  rumor  he  referred  as  follows  in  a  letter  written  to 
his  half-brother  Augustine  on  the  same  day : 

"  As  I  have  heard,  since  my  arrival  at  this  place,  a  circum 
stantial  account  of  my  death  and  dying  speech,  I  take  the 
earliest  opportunity  of  contradicting  the  first  and  of  assur 
ing  you  that  I  have,  as  yet,  not  composed  the  latter.  But 
by  the  all-powerful  protection  of  Providence  I  have  been 
protected  beyond  all  human  probability  or  expectation 
although  death  was  levelling  my  companions  on  every  side." 

Washington  returned  to  Mount  Vernon  on  the  26th  of 
July,  quite  exhausted.  His  mother  immediately  visited  him, 
anxious  to  persuade  him  to  relinquish  a  military  life  ;  for  the 
keen  scrutiny  of  her  common-sense  perceived  that  the  health 
and  fortune,  and  perhaps  the  life,  of  her  noble  son  were  like 
ly  to  be  sacrificed  upon  the  altar  of  official  incompetency  and 
injustice.  He  admitted  as  much,  but  his  love  of  country  and 
the  menace  of  public  danger,  especially  after  the  defeat  of 


52         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

Braddock,  made  him  hesitate.  To  his  brother  Augustine, 
who  was  then  a  member  of  the  House  of  Burgesses,  he  wrote 
on  July  2d  on  this  subject : 

"  So  little  am  I  dispirited  at  what  has  happened,  I  am  al 
ways  ready  and  always  willing  to  render  my  country  any 
services  I  am  capable  of,  but  never  upon  the  terms  I  have 
done,  having  suffered  much  in  my  private  fortune,  besides 
impairing  one  of  the  best  of  constitutions."* 

He  continued  :  "  I  was  employed  to  go  on  a  journey  in  the 
winter,  when,  I  believe,  few  would  have  undertaken  it — and 
what  did  I  get  for  it  ?  My  expenses  home  !  I  then  was  ap 
pointed,  with  trifling  pay,  to  conduct  a  handful  of  men  to 
the  Ohio.  What  did  I  get  by  that?  Why,  after  putting 
myself  to  considerable  expense  in  equipping  and  providing 
necessaries  for  the  campaign,  I  went  out,  was  soundly  beat 
en,  and  lost  them  all.  I  came  in  and  had  my  commission 
taken  from  me,  or,  in  other  words,  my  command  reduced, 
under  pretence  of  an  order  from  home.  I  then  went  out  a 
volunteer  with  General  Braddock,  and  lost  all  my  horses 
and  many  other  things." 

Yet  in   the  face   of  these   adverse   circumstances,  these 


*  In  1757  and  1758  Washington  was  much  affected  by  a  pulmonary 
disease,  which  threatened  at  one  time  to  become  a  seated  consumption. 
Mr.  Custis,  in  his  "Recollections  of  Washington,"  page  527,  observes: 
"  Being  ordered  one  morning  very  early  into  the  library  at  Mount  Ver- 
non  (a  place  that  none  entered  without  orders),  the  weather  being  warm, 
we  found  the  chief  very  much  undressed,  and  while  looking  on  his  man 
ly  frame,  we  discovered  that  the  centre  of  his  chest  was  indented.  This 
is  an  exception  to  a  general  rule  laid  down  by  anatomists,  that  when  the 
human  frame  possesses  great  muscular  power,  the  chest  should  rather 
.be  rounded  out  and  protuberant  than  indented." 


COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF    OF    THE    VIRGINIA  FORCES.  53 

causes  for  dissatisfaction,  Colonel  Washington's  patriotism 
rose  superior  to  personal  considerations,  and  on  the  i4th  of 
August  he  wrote  to  his  mother  as  follows  : 

"  HONORED  MADAM,— 

"  If  it  is  in  my  power  to  avoid  going  to  the  Ohio 
again,  I  shall ;  but  if  the  command  is  pressed  upon  me  by 
the  general  voice  of  the  country,  and  offered  upon  such 
terms  as  cannot  be  objected  against,  it  would  reflect  dis 
honor  upon  me  to  refuse  it,  and  that,  I  am  sure,  must  or 
ought  to  give  you  greater  uneasiness  than  my  going  in  an 
honorable  command.  Upon  no  other  terms  will  I  accept  it. 
At  present  I  have  no  proposals  made  to  me,  nor  have  I  any 
advice  of  such  an  intention  except  from  private  hands." 

At  the  very  time  Colonel  Washington  was  writing  this  let 
ter,  the  Virginia  Assembly  appointed  him  commander -in- 
chief  of  all  their  forces,  with  a  salary  of  $900.  His  commis 
sion  and  instructions  from  the  governor  were  issued  the 
same  day  (August  i4th).  He  accepted  the  trust,  and  early 
in  September  he  fixed  his  head-quarters  at  Winchester,  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley.  We  need  not  follow  him  further  in 
the  progress  of  the  French  and  Indian  War.  Its  events, 
and  Washington's  services  in  it  as  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Virginia  troops,  are  well  known  to  intelligent  readers.  Suf 
fice  it  to  say  that  the  time  of  his  entire  service  in  that  war 
was  about  five  years.  In  1758  he  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses,  left  the  army  at  near  the 
close  of  that  year,  married,  and  returned  to  Mount  Vernon, 
greatly  to  the  relief  of  his  mother,  who  had  suffered  contin 
ual  anxiety  on  his  account.  In  July,  1759,  she  wrote  to  her 
brother  in  England  : 


54          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

"  Having  so  good  an  opportunity  by  Mr.  Tranlsling,  I 
could  not  let  it  slip.  I  inquire  by  all  opportunity  from  you, 
and  am  glad  to  hear  you  and  my  sister,  and  Mr.  Downman 
[Joseph  Ball's  son-in-law]  and  his  lady  keep  your  health  so 
well.  I  sometimes  hear  you  intend  to  see  Virginia  once 
more.  I  should  be  proud  to  see  you.  I  have  known  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  since  I  saw  you ;  there  was  no  end  to 
my  trouble  while  George  was  in  the  army,  but  he  has  now 
given  it  up." 

This  brother  had  written  to  his  nephew,  Colonel  Washing 
ton,  several  months  before,  congratulating  him  upon  the  suc 
cess  of  his  military  career. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  marriage  of  young  Washington  to  a  charming  widow 
of  his  own  age,  early  in  1759,  made  his  mother  very  happy. 
The  social  position,  the  fortune,  and  the  lively  character  of 
his  bride  were  extremely  satisfactory  to  Mary  Washington. 
She  was  made  supremely  happy  also  because  of  the  assur 
ance  that  her  eldest  son  was  now  settled  for  life  not  far 
from  his  mother,  where  she  might  enjoy  his  society  and  al 
ways  consult  with  him  about  her  affairs  if  necessary,  though 
she  was  now  unburdened  of  much  care,  for  her  children  had 
reached  maturity. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Madam  Washington's  daughter 
Elizabeth,  as  we  have  observed,  was  well  married  and  living 
near  her,  and  her  three  remaining  sons  were  soon  in  the 
same  happy  state.  Samuel,  next  in  age  to  George,  married 
Jane,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Champe ;  John  Augustine  mar 
ried  Hannah,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Bushrod,  of  Westmore 
land  ;  and  Charles  married  Mildred,  daughter  of  Col.  Fran 
cis  Thornton,  of  Spottsylvania.  So  all  her  children  were 
settled  near  her,  and  in  time  numerous  grandchildren  con 
tributed  to  her  happiness.  Betty  Lewis  had  many  children  ; 
Samuel  was  married  five  times  and  had  five,  and  Charles 
had  four. 

Nothing  of  special  interest  is  known  of  the  life  of  Mary 
Washington  from  the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  War 
until  the  beginning  of  the  armed  struggle  of  the  British- 


56  MARY,   THE    MOTHER    OF    WASHINGTON. 

American  colonies  for  their  political  independence.  Her 
already  distinguished  son  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
political  events  immediately  preliminary  to  that  struggle, 
and  when  war  was  actually  begun  in  New  England,  his  first 
care  was  to  insure  the  personal  safety  of  his  mother  from 
the  vicissitudes  incident  to  the  disturbed  state  of  public  af 
fairs.  His  prescience  and  his  knowledge  of  the  British 
character  admonished  him  that  the  contest  would  be  long 
and  fierce,  and  extend  to  all  the  colonies  along  the  sea 
board.  He  persuaded  his  mother  to  leave  her  exposed 
house  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  he  assisted  her  to  remove 
from  her  farm  into  Fredericksburg,  which  was  in  sight  of  it, 
where  she  might  enjoy  the  society  of  friends  and  be  protect 
ed  from  marauders  who  might  ascend  the  river.  Her  daugh 
ter,  Mrs.  Lewis,  desired  her  mother  to  take  up  her  abode 
with  her  at  Kenmore  House,  but  the  wise  and  prudent  ma 
tron  chose  rather  to  enjoy  the  quiet  and  sovereignty  of  a 
home  of  her  own,  saying,  "  I  thank  you  for  your  dutiful  and 
affectionate  offer,  but  my  wants  are  few  in  this  life,  and  I 
feel  perfectly  competent  to  take  care  of  myself."  She  chose 
for  her  residence  a  modest  and  yet  quite  a  stylish  residence, 
for  the  time,  on  Charles  Street,  at  the  corner  of  Lewis  Street. 
This  dwelling,  partially  changed  in  outward  appearance, 
is  still  in  existence.  It  was  quite  long  on  Charles  Street, 
having  four  windows  and  a  door  in  front.  It  was  two  sto- 

O 

ries  in  height,  the  upper  one  lighted  by  dormer  windows, 
which  pierced  the  steep  roof  and  made  cheerful  attic  rooms. 
The  roof  in  the  rear  extended  down  to  within  ten  feet  of  the 
ground.  There  was  a  chimney  at  each  end.  In  the  rear  of 
the  house  was  a  spacious  garden  and  a  large  fruit-orchard. 
Separated  a  few  feet  from  the  dwelling,  in  the  rear,  was  the 


MARY  WASHINGTON'S  HOUSE  IN  FREDERICKSBURG.      57 


MARV    WASHINGTON  S    HOUSE    IN    FREDERICKSBURG. 

kitchen.  A  passage  extended  from  the  front  to  the  rear  of 
the  house,  in  which  was  a  winding  staircase  leading  to  the 
chambers.  Such  was  the  dwelling-place  of  the  mother  of 
Washington  during  the  war  for  independence,  and  there  she 
died.*  f 

*  A  portion  of  the  house  has  been  raised  and  transformed  into  a  mod 
ern  two-story  house  with  a  porch.  The  portion  which  forms  the  corner 
of  the  streets  is  a  part  of  the  original  dwelling.  The  rear  part  has  been 
converted  into  a  kitchen,  and  the  garden  is  largely  covered  with  build 
ings. 

There  has  recently  been  published  some  absurd  fictions  about  Madam 
Washington  and  this  residence.  One  writer  says,  "  It  was  from  her 
Fredericksburg  home  that  Washington  [in  1753]  went  to  Williamsburg 
to  tender  his  services  to  Governor  Dinwiddie,  for  the  purpose  of  bearing 
a  letter  to  the  French  commandant  on  the  Ohio."  Another  writer  says 


58         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

Madam  Washington  was  now  in  the  direct  line  of  com 
munication  between  the  Eastern  and  Southern  colonies,  and 
she  was  in  the  constant  receipt  of  news  concerning  the  prog 
ress  of  the  struggle  at  all  points.  Washington  communicat 
ed  to  her,  as  opportunities  offered,  tidings  of  the  most  im 
portant  occurrences  in  the  strife.  Courier  after  courier 
would  appear  at  the  door  of  her  dwelling  with  despatches 
which  told  her  alternately  of  victory  and  of  defeat.  She  re 
ceived  all  messages  with  equanimity,  and  never  betrayed  any 
uncommon  emotion.  When  the  cheering  news  of  the  vic 
tories  at  Trenton  and  Princeton  reached  Fredericksburg, 
several  of  her  friends  congratulated  her  upon  the  brilliant 
achievements  of  her  son,  when  she  simply  replied,  "  George 


that  a  place  in  the  front  room  of  the  house  is  pointed  out  as  "  the  spot 
where  George  used  to  sit  on  a  bench  and  straighten  out  his  mother's  ac 
counts;"  that  Washington  and  his  mother  "both  dwelt  there;"  that 
"before,  during,  and  after  the  Revolutionary  War  it  was  Washington's 
frequent  practice  to  visit  his  mother  in  this  famous  house;"  that  "on 
one  occasion  during  the  Revolution  Washington  called  on  his  mother, 
and  finding  her  working  in  her  garden,  went  out  to  greet  her,  when  she 
laughingly  exclaimed,  'Well,  George,  haven't  they  caught  you?'  His 
reply  was  to  hand  her  a  bag  of  silver;  and,"  says  the  writer,  "  she  was 
always  kept  well  supplied  with  silver  by  her  son  during  the  Revolution." 
Another  writer  says,  "Fredericksburg  proudly  lays  claim  to  the  honor 
of  having  been  the  scene  of  the  early  life  of  Washington,  the  home  of 
his  mother." 

These  assertions  have  been  put  forth  as  veritable  history.  A  proper 
characterization  of  them  maybe  formed  by  the  consideration  that  Wash 
ington  never  dwelt  in  Fredericksburg  ;  that  his  mother  did  not  make  her 
abode  there  until  1775,  when  her  distinguished  son  was  more  than  forty- 
three  years  of  age,  and  that  he  was  not  in  that  town  (nor  even  in  Vir 
ginia)  during  the  whole  war  for  independence  until  late  in  the  seventh 
year  of  the  struggle  (1781),  when  he  passed  through  with  foreign  officers. 


MARY    WASHINGTON  S    DAILY    LIFE.  59 

seems  to  have  deserved  well  of  his  country  ;"  and  when  some 
of  them  read  paragraphs  of  letters  they  had  received,  in 
which  the  skill  and  bravery  of  Washington  were  applauded, 
she  said,  "  Gentlemen,  here  is  too  much  flattery  ;  still  George 
will  not  forget  the  lessons  I  have  taught  him — he  will  not 
forget  himself,  though  he  is  an  object  of  so  much  praise." 

As  the  war  went  on  and  the  fate  of  the  inchoate  nation 
seemed  to  depend  upon  her  first-born — as  the  star  of  his 
renown  rose  higher  and  higher,  and  beamed  with  ever-in 
creasing  lustre,  and  his  name  became  a  synonym  of  hero 
and  patriot  in  two  hemispheres — this  noble  matron  might 
have  been  seen  every  day  in  her  unpretentious  dwelling  at 
Fredericksburg  in  plain  attire,  the  same  industrious,  pru 
dent,  and  thrifty  housewife  and  wise  manager  of  her  affairs 
that  she  was  in  her  country  home  on  the  bank  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock,  ever  giving  thanks  to  God  for  the  blessings  she 
enjoyed.  With  sublime  trustfulness  in  Divine  power,  jus 
tice,  and  goodness,  she  was  undisturbed  by  the  tumult  of 
the  quick-throbbing  heart  of  the  nation  at  that  crisis,  or  the 
resounding  applause  which  greeted  her  son  on  every  side. 

Madam  Washington  had  a  small  farm  near  Fredericks- 
burg,  the  cultivation  of  which  she  personally  superintended. 
She  might  be  seen  every  fair  day,  excepting  the  Sabbath, 
riding  out  to  her  plantation  in  an  old-fashioned  two-wheeled 
chaise,  herself  driving  her  gentle  horse,  and  going  from 
field  to  field  directing  the  laborers  in  their  work.  She  em 
ployed  an  overseer,  but  he  was  always  required  to  follow 
her  instructions  implicitly.  She  was  a  rigid  disciplinarian 
in  business  as  in  the  domestic  circle,  and  her  word  was 
law.  She  always  acted  with  deliberation,  gave  her  com 
mands  with  gravity  and  explicitness,  and  expected  them  to 


60         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

be  obeyed.  Disobedience  was  always  followed  by  rebuke, 
sometimes  severe  in  words,  if  it  seemed  necessary.  They 
were  given,  not  in  anger,  but  with  such  a  tone  and  dignity 
that  the  offender  would  not  willingly  repeat  the  offence  or 
incur  her  displeasure.  On  one  occasion  her  agent  departed 
from  her  instructions.  She  instantly  called  him  to  an  ac 
count. 

"Madam,"  said  the  overseer,  "in  my  judgment,  the  work 
has  been  done  to  better  advantage  than  if  I  had  followed 
your  directions." 

"  And  pray  who  gave  you  the  right  to  exercise  any  judg 
ment  in  the  matter  ?"  asked  the  now  venerable  matron.  "  I 
command  you,  sir  ;  there  is  nothing  left  for  you  but  to  obey." 

When  the  infirmities  of  old  age  began  to  burden  her,  her 
son-in-law,  Colonel  Lewis,  proposed  that  he  should  relieve 
her  in  the  management  of  her  affairs.  She  thanked  him, 
and  said, 

"  Do  you,  Fielding,  keep  my  books  in  order,  for  your 
eyesight  is  better  than  mine,  but  leave  the  management  of 
the  farm  to  me." 

Habitual  secret  communion  with  her  Maker  gave  daily 
strength  to  the  spirit  of  Mary  Washington.  She  devoted 
an  hour  each  day  to  such  communion,  either  in  her  home 
or,  when  the  weather  was  favoring,  at  a  secluded  spot  on 
land  belonging  to  Colonel  Lewis,  not  far  from  her  dwelling. 
This  retreat  was  sheltered  from  public  observation  by  rocks, 
trees,  and  shrubbery.  To  that  spot,  for  many  years  before 
her  death,  she  resorted  to  meditate  and  pray.  As  it  had 
been  sanctified  to  her  heart  and  mind  by  such  communion, 
which  always  suffused  her  soul  with  divine  peace,  she  se 
lected  a  beautiful  swell  of  land  a  few  steps  from  this  retreat 


MARY  WASHINGTON'S  FEAR  OF  LIGHTNING.  61 

as  the  place  of  her  sepulture,  and  so  she  designated  it  in 
her  will. 

The  intrepidity  and  trustfulness  of  Mary  Washington 
never  failed  her ;  but  an  unconquerable  fear  and  dread 
overcame  her  during  thunder-storms,  when  she  would  retire 
to  her  chamber,  and  not  leave  it  until  the  tempest  was  over 
past.  This  fear  of  lightning  had  been  caused  by  a  most 
affecting  event.  Soon  after  her  marriage,  while  seated  at 
her  own  table  with  a  young  woman  who  was  her  intimate 
friend,  lightning,  during  a  thunder  shower,  entered  the  room, 
and  attracted  to  the  steel  knife  and  fork  in  the  hands  of 
the  visitor,  melted  them  and  instantly  destroyed  the  life  of 
the  maiden.  From  this  shock  the  courageous  matron  nev 
er  recovered. 

As  soon  as  convenient  after  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis 
at  Yorktown,  in  October,  1781,  Washington  departed  for 
Philadelphia,  the  seat  of  the  Continental  Government.  His 
heart  was  greatly  saddened  at  the  moment  of  his  departure 
from  the  scene  of  his  great  victory  by  the  sudden  death  of 
his  step-son,  Colonel  Custis,  who  was  a  member  of  his  staff. 
The  commander-in-chief  was  accompanied  as  far  as  Fred- 
ericksburg  by  a  brilliant  retinue  of  French  and  American 
officers.  They  arrived  there  on  the  afternoon  of  the  nth 
of  November,  when  Washington  hastened  to  meet  and  em 
brace  his  mother  at  her  home.  She  was  then  seventy-five 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Custis,  in  his  "Recollections  of  Wash 
ington,"  has  left  on  record  an  interesting  account  of  this 
meeting  of  the  aged  mother  and  her  illustrious  son  for  the 
first  time  in  almost  seven  years,  which  he  derived  from  the 
lips  of  eye-witnesses  of  the  event: 

"  As  •  soon  as  he  was  dismounted,  in  the  midst  of  a  nu- 


62  MARY,  THE    MOTHER    OF    WASHINGTON. 

merous  and  brilliant  suite,"  wrote  Mr.  Custis,  "he  sent  to 
apprise  her  of  his  arrival,  and  to  know  when  it  would  be 
her  pleasure  to  receive  him.  ...  No  pageantry  of  war  pro 
claimed  his  coming,  no  trumpets  sounded,  no  banners 
waved.  Alone  and  on  foot  the  general-in-chief  of  the  com 
bined  armies  of  France  and  America,  the  deliverer  of  his 
country,  the  hero  of  the  age,  repaired  to  pay  his  humble 
tribute  of  duty  to  her  whom  he  venerated  as  the  author  of 
his  being,  the  founder  of  his  fortunes  and  his  fame ;  for  full 
well  he  knew  that  the  matron  was  made  of  sterner  stuff 
than  to  be  moved  by  all  the  pride  that  glory  ever  gave,  and 
all  the  '  pomp  and  circumstance '  of  power. 

"  She  was  alone,  her  aged  hands  employed  in  the  works 
of  domestic  industry,  when  the  good  news  was  announced, 
and  it  was  told  that  the  victor  was  awaiting  at  the  threshold. 
She  bade  him  welcome  by  a  warm  embrace  and  by  the  well- 
remembered  and  endearing  name  of  George — the  familiar 
name  of  his  childhood.  She  inquired  as  to  his  health,  for 
she  marked  the  lines  which  mighty  cares  and  many  toils 
had  made  in  his  manly  countenance,  and  she  spoke  much 
of  old  times  and  old  friends,  but  of  his  glory  not  one  word. 

"  Meanwhile,  in  the  village  of  Fredericksburg,  all  was  joy 
and  revelry.  The  town  was  crowded  with  the  officers  of  the 
French  and  American  armies,  and  with  gentlemen  from 
many  miles  around,  who  hastened  to  welcome  the  conqueror 
of  Cornwallis.  The  citizens  got  up  a  splendid  ball,  to 
which  the  matron  was  specially  invited.  She  observed  to 
the  messenger  that,  although  her  dancing  days  were  pretty 
well  over,  she  should  feel  happy  in  contributing  to  the  gen 
eral  festivity,  and  consented  to  attend. 

"  The  foreign  officers  were  anxious  to  see  the  mother  of 


THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  FOREIGN  OFFICERS.  63 

their  chief.  They  had  heard  indistinct  rumors  touching  her 
remarkable  life  and  character ;  but  forming  their  judgments 
from  European  examples,  they  were  prepared  to  expect  in 
the  mother  that  glitter  and  show  which  would  have  been 
attached  to  the  parents  of  the  great  in  the  countries  of  the 
Old  World.  How  were  they  surprised  when,  leaning  on  the 
arm  of  her  son,  she  entered  the  room  dressed  in  the  very 
plain  yet  becoming  garb  worn  by  the  Virginia  lady  of  the 
olden  time !  Her  address  was  always  dignified  and  impos 
ing,  courteous  though  reserved.  She  received  the  compli 
mentary  attentions  which  were  paid  to  her  without  the 
slightest  elevation,  and  at  an  early  hour,  wishing  the  com 
pany  much  enjoyment  of  their  pleasures,  observed  that  it 
was  time  for  old  folks  to  be  in  bed,  and  retired,  leaning,  as 
before,  on  the  arm  of  her  son. 

"The  foreign  officers  were  amazed  on  beholding  one 
whom  so  many  causes  conspired  to  elevate,  preserving  the 
even  tenor  of  her  life,  while  such  a  blaze  of  glory  shone 
upon  her  name  and  offspring.  It  was  a  moral  spectacle 
such  as  the  European  world  had  furnished  no  examples. 
Names  of  ancient  lore  were  heard  to  escape  from  their  lips, 
and  they  declared  '  if  such  are  the  matrons  in  America,  well 
may  she  boast  of  illustrious  sons.'  "  * 

"  Recollections  and  Private  Memoirs  of  Washington,  by  his  adopt 
ed  son,  George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  and  Illustrative  and  Explana 
tory  Notes  by  Benson  J.  Lossing,"  page  141.  This  ball  was  given  in 
the  large  room  of  the  principal  tavern  in  Fredericksburg,  which  was 
used  by  the  dancing  assemblies  every  winter  and  for  public  entertain 
ments.  It  was  plain  in  its  architecture,  having  a  cornice  at  the  top  and 
plain  window  casements.  There  were  thin,  figured  curtains  at  each 
window. 


64          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

The  heart  of  Washington  was  saddened  by  the  death  of 
his  much-loved  step-son,  and  he  did  not  return  to  the  gay 
scene  after  he  retired  from  it  with  his  mother ;  but  ever 
mindful  of  others,  he  did  not  allow  the  least  manifestation 
of  a  heavy  heart  to  mar  the  pleasures  of  the  company  while 
he  was  among  them.  He  even  danced  a  minuet  with  Mrs. 
Colonel  Willis,  a  distinguished  matron  of  the  town,  and  this 
was  the  last  time,  it  is  said,  he  engaged  in  that  amusement. 
The  venerable  widow  of  Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton  told  me, 
not  long  before  her  death,  that  Washington  "never  danced 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War."  She  was  pres 
ent  at  several  balls  which  he  attended.  He  would  some 
times  walk  through  a  figure  or  two  with  ladies  during  the 
evening,  but  never  took  the  step  of  the  dance. 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  revisited  the  United  States  in 
1784,  and  was  twice  a  guest  at  Mount  Vernon.  Just  before 
his  departure  for  home,  in  the  autumn,  he  spent  a  few  days 
with  Washington,  and  went  to  Fredericksburg  to  give  a  part 
ing  adieu  to  the  mother  of  his  beloved  and  venerated  friend. 
One  of  the  sons  of  the  widowed  Betty  Lewis,  who  was  at 
Mount  Vernon,  accompanied  the  marquis,  and  on  their  ar 
rival  at  Fredericksburg  he  conducted  Lafayette  to  the  dwell 
ing  of  the  venerable  matron.  As  they  approached  the  house, 
young  Lewis  said, 

"There,  sir,  is  my  grandmother,"  pointing  to  an  old  lady 
busy  in  her  garden,  gathering  the  refuse  of  the  summer 
growth  for  burning. 

She  was  clad  in  homespun  garments,  and  her  head  was 
covered  with  a  plain  straw  hat.  In  the  shadow  of  its  broad 
brim,  from  beneath  a  lawn  cap,  appeared  her  whitened  locks. 
Her  expressive  eyes  beamed  with  pleasure  as  she  took  the 


LAFAYETTE    AND    THE    MOTHER    OF    WASHINGTON.  65 

hand  of  Lafayette  in  both  her  own,  and  said,  in  an  almost 
playful  manner, 

"  Ah,  marquis,  you  see  an  old  woman;  but  come  in,  I  can 
make  you  welcome  to  my  poor  dwelling  without  the  parade 
of  changing  my  dress." 

The  gallant  soldier  was  charmed  by  her  sweet  and  cord 
ial  manner,  yet  displaying  almost  courtly  dignity  after  the 
first  words  of  welcome  were  uttered.  She  was  then  nearly 
fourscore  years  of  age,  yet  her  mental  vigor  seemed  un 
touched  by  decay,  and  she  conversed  with  the  animation  of 
middle  age  on  the  great  events  of  the  Revolution  and  the 
bright  prospects  of  her  emancipated  country.  The  marquis 
ventured  to  speak  of  the  transcendent  glory  which  crowned 
her  illustrious  son,  and  the  plaudits  he  would  receive  from 
future  generations.  To  these  expressions  the  matron,  to 
the  astonishment  and  delight  of  the  enthusiastic  French 
man,  quietly  replied, 

"  I  am  not  surprised  at  what  George  has  done,  for  he  was 
always  a  good  boy." 

The  marquis  craved  her  blessing.  It  was  freely  given ; 
and  he  left  that  presence  with  a  higher  appreciation  than 
ever  before  of  the  dignity  of  human  nature  unbiassed  by  ar 
tificial  influences ;  the  power  of  maternal  guidance  wielded 
by  lofty  and  religious  principles ;  and  a  warmer  glow  of  ad 
miration  for  democratic  ideas,  which,  in  their  development 
in  society  in  America,  had  created  such  mothers  and  such 
sons — such  rulers  and  such  citizens  as  abounded  here. 

Madam  Washington's  life  was  spared  until  she  beheld 
her  first-born  son  elevated  to  the  highest  earthly  dignity  to 
which  man  may  aspire — the  lofty  seat  of  the  chief  magistrate 
of  a  young,  vigorous,  and  free  member  of  the  family  of  na- 

5 


66          MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

tions,  and  called  to  it  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  his  grate 
ful  fellow-citizens.  She  had  watched  over  him  with  fidelity 
from  his  infancy,  and  had  been  his  good  angel,  guiding  him 
at  every  step  in  his  glorious  life  career ;  for  so  trustful  was 
he  in  the  intelligence  of  her  judgment,  and  so  obedient  to 
her  as  his  mother  and  mentor  that  it  is  said  he  never  under 
took  any  important  public  task  or  private  enterprise  while 
she  was  living  without  first  communing  with  her  on  the  sub 
ject. 

When  Washington  was  called  to  the  duties  of  President 
of  the  United  States  the  physical  strength  of  his  mother, 
then  past  eighty  years  of  age,  was  wasting  from  the  effects 
of  a  painful  and  incurable  disease  (cancer).  He  had  often 
been  with  her  at  her  own  home  since  the  close  of  the  war, 
and,  until  her  waning  strength  forbade,  she  was  frequently 
at  Mount  Vernon. 

On  the  i4th  of  April,  1789,  Charles  Thomson,  the  Sec 
retary  of  Congress,  appeared  at  Mount  Vernon  with  official 
certificates  that  its  master  had  been  chosen  chief  magistrate 
of  the  republic.  Washington  at  once  prepared  to  accom 
pany  the  secretary  to  New  York,  then  the  seat  of  the  Na 
tional  Government.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  he 
mounted  his  horse,  and  with  his  favorite  body-servant,  "  Bil 
ly,"*  rode  to  the  home  of  his  mother  at  Fredericksburg. 

*  "  Billy "  (William  Lee)  was  a  notable  character  in  Washington's 
family.  Before  the  Revolution  he  was  Washington's  huntsman,  and 
during  the  war  he  was  his  faithful  body-servant.  He  was  always  with 
his  master  in  camp  and  in  the  field,  and  was  trusted  with  the  custody 
of  the  private  papers  of  the  commander-in-chief  when  on  a  march  or  a 
transition  from  one  head-quarters  to  another.  He  was  a  stout  and  very 
active  man.  In  his  later  years,  when  he  was  made  lame  by  an  accident, 


WASHINGTON'S  LAST  INTERVIEW  WITH  HIS  MOTHER.     67 

He  found  her  quite  feeble  in  body,  but  strong  in  spirit  and 
bright  in  intellect.  After  the  first  affectionate  words  were 
uttered,  Washington  said  to  his  mother, 

"  The  people,  madam,  have  been  pleased,  with  the  most 
flattering  unanimity,  to  elect  me  to  the  chief  magistracy  of 
the  United  States ;  but  before  I  can  assume  the  functions 
of  that  office  I  have  come  to  bid  you  an  affectionate  fare 
well.  So  soon  as  the  public  business,  which  must  necessa 
rily  be  encountered  in  arranging  a  new  government,  can  be 
disposed  of,  I  shall  hasten  to  Virginia  and—" 

"  You  will  see  me  no  more,"  she  said,  interrupting  him. 
"  My  great  age,  and  the  disease  that  is  rapidly  approaching 
my  vitals,  warn  me  that  I  shall  not  be  long  in  this  world. 
I  trust  in  God  I  am  somewhat  prepared  for  a  better. 
But  go,  George,  fulfil  the  high  destinies  which  Heaven  ap 
pears  to  assign  you;  go,  my  son,  and  may  that  Heaven's 
and  your  mother's  blessing  be  with  you  always." 

The  great  heart  of  the  patriot  was  filled  with  mingled 
emotions  of  love,  respect,  and  reverence  for  this  his  best 
earthly  friend,  and  moved  with  the  utmost  tenderness  of 
feeling,  he  laid  his  head  upon  the  shoulder  of  his  mother, 
as  he  had  done  when  he  was  a  little  child,  and  wept.  She 
clasped  his  neck  with  her  feeble  arms,  and  her  tears  min 
gled  with  his.  So  they  parted,  never  to  meet  again  on  the 
earth. 

Tradition  tells  us  that  the  stature  of  Madam  Washington 

he  became  an  object  of  special  care.  He  received  many  presents  from 
the  numerous  visitors  at  Mount  Vernon.  Washington,  at  his  death,  left 
Billy  a  home  and  a  pension  of  $150  a  year.  He  was  a  "spoiled  child 
of  fortune,"  and  became  intemperate.  He  survived  his  master  many 
years. 


68         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

was  of  the  full  average  height  of  women,  and  that  in  person 
she  was  compactly  built  and  well  proportioned.  She  pos 
sessed  great  physical  strength  and  powers  of  endurance, 
and  enjoyed  through  life  robust  health.  Her  features 
were  strongly  marked,  but  pleasing  in  expression  ;  at  the 
same  time  there  was  a  dignity  in  her  manner  that  was  at 
first  somewhat  repellent  to  a  stranger,  but  it  always  com 
manded  the  most  thorough  respect  from  her  friends  and 
acquaintances.  Her  voice  was  sweet,  almost  musical  in  its 
cadences,  yet  it  was  firm  and  decided,  and  she  was  always 
cheerful  in  spirit. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WASHINGTON  returned  from  his  visit  to  his  mother  on  the 
evening  of  the  i5th  of  April,  and  early  the  next  morning  he 
set  out  from  Mount  Vernon  for  New  York,  with  Secretary 
Thomson  and  Colonel  Humphreys,  to  be  inaugurated  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States.  After  his  inauguration,  the  mul 
tiplicity  of  cares  and  exhausting  duties  which  burdened  him 
sapped  his  vitality,  and  he  was  finally  prostrated  by  a  dan 
gerous  malady  (a  malignant  carbuncle),  which  confined  him 
in  his  bed  for  several  weeks,  and  almost  ended  his  life. 

The  President  had  just  recovered  sufficient  strength  to 
ride  out  in  his  carriage  when  he  received  tidings  of  the 
death  of  his  mother,  on  August  25,  1789.  Although  her  de 
parture  was  not  unexpected,  the  announcement  deeply  af 
fected  him,  for  the  tie  of  affection  which  bound  these  noble 
beings  to  each  other  was  exceedingly  strong.  To  his  only 
sister,  Mrs.  Lewis,  Washington  immediately  wrote  : 

"  Awful  and  affecting  as  the  death  of  a  parent  is,  there  is 
consolation  in  knowing  that  Heaven  has  spared  ours  to  an 
age  beyond  which  few  attain,  and  favored  her  with  the  full 
enjoyment  of  her  faculties  and  as  much  bodily  strength  as 
usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  fourscore.  Under  these  circum 
stances,  and  the  hope  that  she  is  translated  to  a  happier 
place,  it  is  the  duty  of  her  relatives  to  yield  submission  to 
the  decrees  of  the  Creator.  When  I  was  last  at  Fredericks- 


70         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

burg  I  took  a  final  leave  of  my  mother,  never  expecting  to 
see  her  more." 

The  death  of  Mary  Washington  was  felt  as  a  solemn  pub 
lic  event.  The  members  of  Congress  and  many  other  citi 
zens  put  on  the  accustomed  conventional  mourning.  The 
pulpits  throughout  the  land  noticed  the  event  with  much 
feeling.  At  Fredericksburg,  on  the  day  of  her  funeral,  all 
business  was  suspended.  The  weather  was  extremely  warm, 
yet  the  heat  did  not  deter  the  people  from  thronging  St. 
George's  Church,  to  which  the  body  had  been  conveyed, 
and  where  the  impressive  funeral  service  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  America  (then  just  established)  was 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Thornton,  her  pastor. 

From  the  church  the  remains  of  Madam  Washington  were 
borne  on  the  shoulders  of  strong  men  to  the  place  of  burial 
which  she  had  selected,  followed  by  a  large  procession  of 
relatives  and  friends.  In  that  quiet  spot  all  that  was  mor 
tal  of  Mary,  the  mother  of  Washington,  was  laid,  on  Thurs 
day,  the  2;th  day  of  August,  1789,  at  the  end  of  a  pilgrim 
age  on  the  earth  of  eighty-three  years.  She  had  lived  a 
widow  forty-seven  years,  and  had  always  enjoyed  the  love 
and  reverence  of  those  who  knew  her  most  intimately.  Her 
charities,  steady  and  judicious,  were  never  lavish  nor  ill  con 
sidered,  but  were  always  sufficient  for  the  occasion,  and  en 
deared  her  to  the  hearts  of  the  poor.  Her  sympathetic  and 
wise  counsels  to  the  afflicted  and  wounded  soul,  her  con 
stant  cheerfulness  of  spirit  beaming  through  her  natural 
gravity  and  dignified  demeanor,  her  unaffected  piety  dis 
played  in  actions  rather  than  in  words,  her  conscientious 
discharge  of  every  duty  imposed  towards  God  and  her  fel 
low-creatures,  and  the  habitual  exercise  of  virtues  which 


AT   THE    BURIAL-PLACE    OF    MARY   WASHINGTON.  71 

mark  the  character  of  a  true  wife  and  mother,  caused  Mary 
Washington  to  be  regarded  as  a  model  woman. 

"  Though  a  pious  tear  of  affection  and  esteem  is  due  to 
the  memory  of  so  revered  a  character,"  wrote  one  of  her 
neighbors  on  the  day  of  Mary  Washington's  funeral,  "yet 
our  grief  must  be  greatly  lessened  from  the  consideration 
that  she  is  relieved  from  the  pitiable  infirmities  attendant 
on  extreme  old  age.  It  is  usual,  when  virtuous  and  conspic 
uous  persons  quit  this  terrestrial  abode,  to  publish  elaborate 
panegyrics  on  their  characters,  but  suffice  it  to  say  that  she 
conducted  herself  through  this  transitory  life  with  virtue  and 
prudence  worthy  of  the  mother  of  the  greatest  hero  that  ever 
adorned  the  annals  of  history.  There  is  no  fame  in  the 
world  more  pure  than  that  of  the  mother  of  Washington, 
and  no  woman  since  the  mother  of  Christ  has  left  a  better 
claim  to  the  affectionate  reverence  of  mankind." 

The  grave  in  which  the  remains  of  Mary  Washington  lie 
buried  was  long  unmarked  by  any  memorial.  A  quarter  of 
a  century  after  the  funeral  the  Rev.  Timothy  Alden  wrote : 
"Nothing  distinguishes  her  grave  but  the  verdure  of  the 
grass  which  covers  it  and  a  thrifty  young  cedar  near  it." 
Sixty  years  ago  the  adopted  son  of  Washington  wrote,  in 
reference  to  the  death  of  this  beloved  matron  : 

"  Thus  lived  and  died  this  distinguished  woman.  Had 
she  been  of  the  olden  time,  statues  would  have  been  erected 
to  her  memory  at  the  Capitol,  and  she  would  have  been 
called  the  Mother  of  Romans.  When  another  century 
shall  have  elapsed,  and  our  descendants  shall  have  learned 
the  true  value  of  liberty,  how  will  the  fame  of  the  paternal 
chief  be  cherished  in  story  and  in  song !  nor  will  be  for 
gotten  her  who  first  bent  the  twig  to  incline  the  tree  to 


72         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

glory.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  will  youth  and  age,  maid 
and  matron,  ay,  and  bearded  men,  with  pilgrim  step,  repair 
to  the  now  neglected  grave  of  the  mother  of  Washington." 

The  brief  sketch  of  Mary  Washington  by  Mr.  Custis  from 
which  the  above  sentences  were  taken,  was  published  in 
the  National  Gazette,  at  Washington  City,  on  the  i3th  of 
May,  1826.  It  attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention  at  the 
time,  and  a  project  was  set  on  foot  for  the  re-entombment 
of  the  remains  of  the  matron,  and  the  erection  of  a  suitable 
monument  over  them.  This  movement  was  begun  in  Vir 
ginia.  It  was  estimated  that  the  sum  of  $2000  would  be 
sufficient  for  this  purpose.  Public  sympathy  in  the  under 
taking  was  manifested  all  over  the  Union.  The  press 
everywhere  discussed  the  subject.  A  New  York  journal 
proposed  that  the  whole  sum  should  be  raised  "  by  the  ef 
forts  of  American  maids  and  matrons."  The  proprietor  of 
the  estate  on  which  was  the  matron's  grave  corresponded 
with  Mr.  Custis  on  the  subject,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
Fredericksburg  got  up  a  memorial. 

This  effort  was  spasmodic.  Very  soon  the  subject  slum 
bered  so  profoundly  in  the  public  mind  that  it  seemed  to 
be  forgotten.  Seven  years  afterwards  Silas  E.  Burrows,  a 
patriotic  and  enterprising  merchant  of  New  York  City,  re 
solved  to  erect  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  mother 
of  Washington  at  his  own  expense.  He  did  not  propose 
to  disturb  her  remains,  but  to  build  the  structure  on  the 
spot  where  she  had  willed  her  mortal  relics  should  repose. 
Vigorous  preparations  for  the  task  were  begun,  and  on  the 
7th  of  May,  1833,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  there,  in  the 
presence  of  a  multitude  of  people. 

The  ceremonies  on  that  occasion  were   impressive  and 


PRESIDENT   JACKSON    ASSAULTED.  73 

imposing.  The  President  of  the  United  States  (Andrew 
Jackson)  accepted  an  invitation  to  officiate  as  chief  cele 
brant  on  the  occasion.  On  the  6th  of  May  he  went  down 
the  Potomac  from  the  city  of  Washington  in  a  steamboat, 
with  the  heads  of  the  government  departments  and  his 
private  secretary,  and  was  met  at  Potomac  Creek,  nine  miles 
from  Fredericksburg,  by  the  Monumental  Committee  of 
that  city,  at  the  head  of  which  was  Colonel  Bassett,  a  rela 
tion  of  the  Washington  family  by  marriage.*  The  President 
and  suite  were  received  by  a  military  escort  commanded  by 
Dr.  Wallace,  of  Fredericksburg,  at  whose  house  they  were 
entertained. 

On  the  following  day  a  great  civic  and  military  proces 
sion  was  formed,  and  proceeded  to  the  grave. f  It  was  es- 

*  A  very  unpleasant  event  occurred  at  Alexandria.  While  the  boat 
was  lying  at  the  wharf,  Lieutenant  Randolph,  who  had  lately  been  dis 
missed  from  the  navy,  went  on  board,  and  proceeding  into  the  cabin 
where  the  venerable  President  sat  at  a  table,  reading  and  smoking, 
made  a  cowardly  and  brutal  attack  upon  him.  The  miscreant  was  in 
stantly  seized  by  the  captain  of  the  boat,  when  a  number  of  Randolph's 
friends,  who  accompanied  him,  rescued  him  and  bore  him  to  the  wharf. 
A  citizen  of  Alexandria,  hearing  of  the  outrage,  was  so  greatly  incensed 
that  he  said  to  the  President, 

"  Sir,  if  you  will  pardon  me  in  case  I  am  tried  and  convicted,  I  will 
kill  Randolph  in  fifteen  minutes  for  this  insult  to  you." 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  the  President,  "  I  cannot  do  that.  I  want  no 
man  to  stand  between  me  and  my  assailants,  nor  none  to  take  revenge 
on  my  account.  Had  I  been  prepared  for  this  cowardly  villain's  ap 
proach,  I  can  assure  you  all  that  he  never  would  have  the  temerity  to 
undertake  such  a  thing  again." 

f  The  procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order  :  i.  A  detach 
ment  of  cavalry.  2.  The  Chief  Architect  and  Masonic  Societies.  In 
this  division  Mr.  Burrows  was  assigned  a  conspicuous  and  honorable 


74  MARY,  THE    MOTHER   OF    WASHINGTON. 

timated  that  fully  fifteen  thousand  persons  were  present. 
After  a  prayer  by  the  Rev.  E.  C.  McGuire,  the  pastor  of 
St.  George's  Church,  Colonel  Bassett,  on  behalf  of  the  citi 
zens  of  Fredericksburg,  addressed  the  President  on  the 
character  of  her  whom  they  sought  to  honor.  To  this  ad 
dress  the  President  made  a  brief  but  eloquent  response,  in 
which  he  said : 

"  We  are  assembled,  fellow-citizens,  to  witness  and  assist 
in  an  interesting  ceremony.  More  than  a  century  has 
passed  away  since  she  to  whom  this  tribute  of  respect  is 
about  to  be  paid  entered  upon  the  active  scenes  of  life ;  a 
century  fertile  in  wonderful  events,  and  of  distinguished  men 
who  have  participated  in  them.  Of  these  our  country  has 
furnished  a  full  share,  and  of  these  distinguished  men  she 
has  produced  a  Washington.  ...  In  the  grave  before  us  lie 
the  remains  of  his  mother.  Long  has  it  been  unmarked  by 
any  monumental  tablet,  but  not  unhonpred.  You  have  un 
dertaken  the  pious  duty  of  erecting  a  column  to  her  name, 
and  of  inscribing  upon  it  the  simple  but  affecting  words, 
'  Mary,  the  mother  of  Washington.'  No  eulogy  could  be 
higher,  and  it  appeals  to  the  heart  of  every  American.  .  .  . 


station.  3.  The  President  of  the  United  States,  in  an  open  carriage, 
with  the  heads  of  Departments  and  his  private  secretary  (Major  Donel- 
son),  accompanied  by  the  Monumental  Committee.  4.  The  clergy  and 
relatives  of  Washington.  5.  The  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  Fred 
ericksburg.  6.  A  pleasing  company  of  small  boys,  in  complete  uniform, 
with  wooden  guns.  7.  The  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  invited  strangers.  8.  A  battalion  of  volunteers 
under  Major  Patten,  and  several  companies  of  infantry  from  Washing 
ton  and  Alexandria,  with  the  Marine  Band.  9.  Strangers  and  citizens, 
six  abreast. 


PRESIDENT   JACKSON    AND    MARY   WASHINGTON.  75 

Tradition  says  that  the  character  of  Washington  was 
strengthened,  if  not  formed,  by  the  care  and  precepts  of  his 
mother.  .  ,  .  In  tracing  the  few  recollections  which  can  be 
gathered  of  her  principles  and  conduct  it  is  impossible  to 
avoid  the  conviction  that  these  were  closely  interwoven  with 
the  destiny  of  her  son.  The  great  points  of  his  character 
are  before  the  world.  He  who  runs  may  read  them  in  his 
whole  career,  as  a  citizen,  a  soldier,  a  magistrate.  He  pos 
sessed  unerring  judgment,  if  that  term  can  be  applied  to 
human  nature,  great  probity  of  purpose,  high  moral  princi 
ples,  perfect  self-possession,  untiring  application,  an  inquir 
ing  mind,  seeking  information  from  every  quarter,  and  ar 
riving  at  its  conclusions  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  subject, 
and  he  added  to  these  an  inflexibility  of  resolution  which 
nothing  could  change  but  a  conviction  of  error.  Look 
back  upon  the  life  and  conduct  of  his  mother,  and  at  her 
domestic  government,  as  they  have  this  day  been  delineated 
by  the  chairman  of  the  Monumental  Committee,  and  as 
they  were  known  to  her  contemporaries  and  have  been  de 
scribed  by  them,  and  they  will  be  found  admirably  adapted 
to  form  and  develop  the  elements  of  such  a  character." 

As  the  President  deposited  an  inscribed  plate  in  the  cor 
ner-stone,  he  said, 

"  FELLOW-CITIZENS  :  At  your  request,  and  in  your  name, 
I  now  deposit  this  plate  on  the  spot  destined  for  it ;  and 
when  the  American  pilgrim  shall,  in  after-ages,  come  up  to 
this  high  and  holy  place,  and  lay  his  hand  upon  this  sacred 
column,  may  he  recall  the  virtues  of  her  who  sleeps  beneath, 
and  depart  with  his  affections  purified  and  his  piety 
strengthened,  while  he  invokes  blessings  upon  the  memory 
of  the  mother  of  Washington." 


76         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  ceremony  the  following  poem, 
written  for  the  occasion  by  the  late  Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Sigour- 
ney,  was  read : 

"  Long  hast  thou  slept,  unnoted.     Nature  stole 
In  her  soft  ministry  around  thy  bed, 
And  spread  her  vernal  coverings,  violet-gemm'd, 
And  pearled  with  dews.     She  bade  her  bright  Summer  bring 
Gifts  of  frankincense,  with  sweet  song  of  birds, 
And  Autumn  cast  his  yellow  coronet 
Dome  at  his  feet,  and  stormy  Winter  speak 
Hoarsely  of  man's  neglect.     But  now  we  come 
To  do  thee  homage,  mother  of  our  chief, 
Fit  homage,  such  as  honoreth  him  who  pays  ! 
Methinks  we  see  thee,  as  in  olden  time, 
Simple  in  garb — majestic  and  serene — 
Unaw'd  by  '  pomp  and  circumstance  ' — in  truth 
Inflexible — and  with  Spartan  zeal 
Repressing  vice  and  making  folly  grave. 
Thou  didst  not  deem  it  woman's  part  to  waste 
Life  on  inglorious  sloth,  to  sport  a  while 
Amid  the  flowers,  or  on  the  summer  wave, 
Then  flit  like  the  ephemeron  away, 
Building  no  temple  in  her  children's  hearts, 
Save  to  the  vanity  and  pride  of  life 
Which  she  had  worshipped. 

"  Of  the  might  that  clothed 
The  '  Pater  Patria  ' — of  the  deeds  that  won 
A  nation's  liberty  and  Earth's  applause, 
Making  Mount  Vernon's  tomb  a  Mecca  haunt 
For  patriot  and  for  sage,  while  time  shall  last, 
What  part  was  thine,  what  thanks  to  thee  are  due, 
Who  'mid  his  elements  of  being  wrought 
With  no  uncertain  aim — nursing  the  germs 
Of  godlike  virtue  in  his  infant  mind, 
We  know  not — Heaven  can  tell ! 


MARY  WASHINGTON'S  MONUMENT. 


77 


"  Rise,  noble  pile  ! 

And  show  a  race  unborn  who  rests  below — 
And  say  to  mothers  what  a  holy  charge 
Is  theirs — with  what  a  kingly  power  their  love 
Might  rule  the  fountains  of  the  new-born  mind — 
Warn  them  to  wake  at  early  dawn,  and  sow 
Good  seed  before  the  world  doth  sow  its  tares, 
Nor  in  their  toil  decline — that  angel  bands 
May  put  their  sickle  in,  and  reap  for  God, 
And  gather  to  his  garner." 

When  this  monument  of  white  marble  was  completed — all 
but  the  obelisk  of  beautiful  design  which  was  to  surmount 
it — commercial  reverses  befell  the  generous  merchant,  and 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  patriotic  task.  The  block 


MONUMENT   IN    MEMORY    OF    MARY    WASHINGTON. 


for  the  obelisk  as  it  was  taken  from  the  quarry  had  been 
drawn  to  the  spot,  and  needed  only  the  skill  and  labor  of 
the  sculptor  to  fashion  it  into  exquisite  form.  But,  with 
shame  be  it  spoken,  it  lies  there  still  (1886),  after  a  lapse 
of  over  fifty  years,  untouched  by  any  hand  but  that  of  the 


78         MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON. 

relic-seeking  despoiler  which  has  defaced  it  beyond  recov- 
ery. 

When  I  visited  and  sketched  the  monument  in  1848,  it 
was  perfect  as  far  as  completed.  Year  after  year  the  dust 
of  the  plain  had  lodged  upon  the  top  of  the  unfinished  pile, 
and  the  seeds  of  wild-flowers  had  been  borne  thither  upon 
the  wings  of  zephyrs ;  and  where  the  base  of  the  promised 
noble  obelisk  should  rest,  Nature,  as  if  rebuking  insensate 
man,  had  woven  green  garlands  and  flowery  festoons. 
Upon  the  broad  tablet  whereon  was  to  be  inscribed  the 
words, 

MARY, 
THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON, 

dark -green  fungi  had  made  their  humiliating  record  instead. 

Since  that  time  the  tooth  of  decay  and  the  hands  of  bar 
barous  man  have  hastened  the  work  of  destruction.  A 
friend  who  visited  the  spot  in  1884  wrote  to  me  that  "all 
but  three  of  the  eight  columns  which  had  been  placed  in 
sunken  panels  have  been  removed  or  destroyed.  No  en 
closure  guards  the  place  from  intrusion.  The  sacred  spot 
is  utterly  neglected — broken,  grass-grown,  and  dilapidated." 

How  much  longer  will  Virginia — how  much  longer  will 
the  nation  suffer  such  a  reproach  ?  The  National  Govern 
ment  has  just  completed  a  superb  obelisk  that  pierces  the 
firmament  more  than  five  hundred  feet  above  the  earth,  in 
honor  of  her  illustrious  son.  Cannot  this  mighty  govern 
ment,  this  nation  of  nearly  sixty  million  people,  with  a 
plethoric  treasury,  afford  to  devote  a  few  dollars  in  money 
and  a  few  emotions  of  honest  pride  and  genuine  patriotism 
to  the  task  of  completing  a  work  begun  more  than  fifty 
years  ago  by  a  patriotic  citizen  in  honor  of  the  mother  of 
Washington  ? 


MARTHA. 


MARTHA, 

THE   WIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"...  Her  form  was  all  humanity, 
Her  soul  all  God's ;  in  spirit  and  in  form 
Like  fair." — PHILIP  JAMES  BAILEY. 

EARLY  in  the  last  century  the  colonial  court  of  Virginia, 
seated  at  Williamsburg,  midway  between  the  York  and 
James  rivers,  was  the  gayest  on  the  continent.  There  was 
much  of  the  old  cavalier  element  left  in  Virginia  society  at 
that  period,  and  much  of  the  stately  etiquette  and  conven 
tional  formality  of  the  better  class  in  England  prevailed  at 
the  Virginia  capital.  Among  the  prominent  persons  of  the 
social  circle  that  surrounded  the  court  at  Williamsburg 
during  the  seasons  of  amusement  at  about  the  middle  of 
the  last  century,  were  Col.  John  Dandridge  and  his  accom 
plished  wife,  a  daughter  of  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers  in  Gloucester  County.  Colonel  Dandridge 
was  a  cultivated  gentleman  and  an  extensive  planter  in  New 
Kent  County.  He  owned  a  fine  residence  on  the  Pamun- 
key  River,  was  a  local  magistrate,  colonel  of  his  military 


84  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

district,  and  a  vestryman  of  St.  Peter's  parish.  The  Dan- 
dridge  family  were  descended  from  the  Rev.  Orlando  Jones, 
a  clergyman  from  Wales,  who  was  among  the  earlier  col 
onists  of  Virginia.  Two  of  Colonel  Dandridge's  sons  were 
in  the  British  navy  at  this  period. 

Martha,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Colonel  Dandridge,  was 
then  just  blooming  into  womanhood.  She  was  a  charming 
girl,  a  little  below  the  medium  stature,  and  possessed  of  an 
elegant  figure.  Her  eyes  were  dark,  and  expressive  of  the 
most  kindly  good-nature,  her  complexion  was  fair,  her  hair  a 
rich  brown  in  color,  her  features  were  regular  and  beautiful, 
her  whole  face  beamed  with  intelligence ;  she  was  spright 
ly  and  witty,  and  her  manners  were  modest  and  extremely 
winning.  Martha  had  been  fairly  educated  by  private  tu 
tors,  and  she  was  an  expert  performer  on  the  spinet. 

Martha  Dandridge  was  first  introduced  at  the  vice-regal 
court,  during  the  later  period  of  the  long  administration  of 
Lieut.-Gov.  William  Gooch,  when  she  was  fifteen  years  of 
age.  She  attracted  universal  admiration,  for  she  was  wom 
anly  beyond  her  years.  At  seventeen  she  was  the  reigning 
belle  at  that  court,  and  numerous  suitors  sought  to  win  her 
heart  and  hand. 

At  the  city  of  Williamsburg  lived  Col.  John  Custis,  a  man 
possessed  of  large  wealth,  and  who  held,  at  one  time,  the 
high  office  of  King's  Councillor  in  the  government  of  Vir 
ginia.  He  had  married  in  early  life  Frances  Parke,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Col.  Daniel  Parke,  who  was  engaged  in 
seeking  his  fortune  abroad  in  the  military  service  of  Queen 
Anne.  She  and  her  sister  Lucy,  who  married  Col.  William 
Byrd,  of  Westover,  had  lived  in  quiet  seclusion  with  their 
mother.  Frances  is  represented  as  a  wayward,  ill-tempered, 


A    LOVE-LETTER.  85 

and  self-willed  girl ;  beautiful  in  form  and  feature,  and  one 
of  two  heirs  to  a  great  fortune  in  prospect.  Young  Custis 
sought  her  hand  with  the  ardor  and  eagerness  of  youth,* 
and  married  her  in  spite  of  warnings  that  he  could  never 
live  happily  with  her.  Their  nuptials  were  celebrated  at 
her  home  at  Queen's  Creek,  on  York  River.  Their  honey 
moon  had  scarcely  ended  when  a  war  of  words  between 

*  The  following  letter  of  young  Custis  to  his  intended  bride  a  few 
months  before  their  marriage,  in  which,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
time,  he  calls  her  his  "  Fidelia,"  is  a  fair  specimen  of  passionate  love- 
letters  in  the  colonial  days  : 

"  WlLLIAMSBURG,  Feb.  4.  1705. 

"  May  angels  guard  my  dearest  Fidelia  and  deliver  her  safe  to  my 
arms  at  our  next  meeting;  and  sure  they  won't  refuse  their  protection  to 
a  creature  so  pure  and  charming,  that  it  would  be  easy  for  them  to  mis 
take  her  for  one  of  themselves.  If  you  could  but  believe  how  entirely 
you  possess  the  empire  of  my  heart,  you  would  easily  credit  me  when  I 
tell  you,  that  I  can  neither  think  nor  so  much  as  dream  of  any  other  sub 
ject  than  the  enchanting  Fidelia.  You  will  do  me  wrong  if  you  suspect 
there  ever  was  a  man  created  that  loved  with  more  tenderness  and  sin 
cerity  than  I  do,  and  I  should  do  you  wrong  if  I  could  imagine  there 
ever  was  a  nymph  that  deserved  it  better  than  you.  Take  this  for  grant 
ed,  and  then  fancy  how  uneasy  I  am  like  to  be  under  the  unhappiness  of 
your  absence.  Figure  to  yourself  what  tumults  there  will  arise  in  my 
blood,  what  a  fluttering  of  the  spirits,  what  a  disorder  of  the  pulse,  what 
passionate  wishes,  what  absence  of  thought,  and  what  crowding  of  sighs, 
and  then  imagine  how  unfit  I  shall  be  for  business.  But  returning  to 
the  dear  cause  of  my  uneasiness  :  O  the  torture  of  six  months'  expecta 
tion  !  If  it  must  be  so  long,  and  necessity  will,  till  then,  interpose  be 
twixt  you  and  my  inclinations,  I  must  submit,  though  it  be  as  unwilling 
ly  as  pride  submits  to  superior  virtue,  or  envy  to  superior  success.  Pray 
think  of  me,  and  believe  that  Veramour  is  entirely  and  eternally  yours. 

"ADIEU. 

"  I  pray  you  write  as  soon  as  you  receive  this,  and  commit  your  letter 
to  the  same  trusty  hand  that  brings  you  this." 

The  inscription  on  Custis's  tombstone,  given  in  the  next  page,  is  a 
significant  commentary  on  this  letter. 


86  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

them  began,  and  only  ended  with  her  life,  which  was  termi 
nated  by  small-pox  when  she  had  given  birth  to  a  son  and 
a  daughter.  Tradition  says  her  husband  was  no  more  a 
saint  than  she ;  but  her  tongue  was  more  expert  than  his, 
and  she  managed  to  have  the  last  word  in  these  oral  con 
tests.  The  husband  provided  in  his  will  for  having  the  very 
last  word,  for  he  ordered  his  heir,  on  pain  of  disinheritance, 
to  have  inscribed  on  his  tombstone,  at  the  place  of  his 
burial,  the  following  words  : 

"  UNDER  THIS  MARBLE  TOMB  LIES  THE  BODY 
OF  THE  HON.  JOHN  CUSTIS,  ESQ., 
OF  THE  CITY  OF  WILLIAMSBURG, 

AND  PARISH  OF  BRUTON, 
FORMERLY  OF  HUNGAR  PARISH,  ON  THE 

EASTERN  SHORE 

OF  VIRGINIA,  AND  COUNTY  OF  NORTHAMPTON, 

AGED  71   YEARS,  AND  YET  LIVED  BUT  SEVEN  YEARS, 

WHICH  WAS  THE  SPACE  OF  TIME  HE  KEPT 

A  BACHELOR'S  HOME  AT  ARLINGTON, 
ON  THE  EASTERN  SHORE  OF  VIRGINIA." 

The  only  son  and  heir  of  Colonel  Custis  was  Daniel 
Parke  Custis,  who  was  born  at  Arlington.  He  was  tardy 
in  choosing  a  wife.  His  father  earnestly  desired  him  to 
marry  his  pretty  cousin,  Evelyn  Byrd,  of  Westover,  on  her 
return  from  England.  She  was  a  charming  maiden,  four 
years  the  senior  of  Daniel.  Her  father,  Col.  William  Byrd, 
was  possessed  of  a  princely  estate,  and  exercised  a  very 
wide  social  influence.  The  wedding  of  this  couple  would 
have  been  pleasant  to  the  parents  of  both,  but  Daniel 
Parke  Custis  did  not  acquiesce  in  his  father's  wishes.  The 
colonel  was  disappointed,  chagrined,  and  irritated.  His  am- 


MARTHA    DANDRIDGE    AND    HER    LOVER.  87 

bitious  desires  to  unite  the  two  families  by  still  stronger  ties 
were  paramount  to  the  happiness  of  his  son,  and  he  not  only 
positively  refused  to  give  his  consent  to  Daniel's  marriage 
to  any  one  else,  but  he  threatened  to  disinherit  him  in  case 
he  should  refuse  to  marry  Evelyn  Byrd.*  But  the  son  was 
firm,  and  the  conduct  of  his  father  strengthened  the  young 
man's  determination  not  to  marry  his  cousin. 

Years  passed  on,  Daniel  Parke  Custis  had  journeyed  be 
yond  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  life,  when  he  became  smitten 
by  the  charms  of  Martha  Dandridge.  He  wooed  and  won 
her  heart,  and  desired  to  marry  her.  His  father  refused  his 
consent.  Colonel  Dandridge's  sweet  daughter  was  loved 
and  admired  by  everybody.  From  every  lip  fell  eulogies  of 
her  personal  beauty,  her  good  sense,  her  amiability  of  char 
acter,  and  her  goodness  of  heart.  These  eulogies  continu 
ally  reached  the  ears  of  Colonel  Custis.  They  assailed  him 
at  all  points.  He  listened  to  the  persuasions  of  a  friend  of 
both  father  and  son,  and  finally  yielded.  At  an  interview 
at  Williamsburg  with  this  friend,  the  colonel  handed  him  the 
following  memorandum  :  "  I  give  my  free  consent  to  the 
Union  of  my  son,  Daniel,  with  Martha  Dandridge."  The 
happy  negotiator  of  the  treaty  wrote  at  once  to  Daniel,  who 
was  on  his  estate  in  New  Kent,  saying, 


*  Evelyn  Byrd  joined  her  father  in  England  when  she  was  about 
twelve  years  of  age.  She  remained  there  until  she  was  grown  to  young 
womanhood,  and  was  a  most  attractive  member  of  a  brilliant  social  cir 
cle.  She  became  engaged  to  marry  the  young  nobleman  who  afterwards 
became  the  famous  Lord  Peterborough,  but  their  nuptials  were  inadmis 
sible,  for  he  was  a  Roman  Catholic  and  she  was  a  Protestant.  She  re 
turned  to  Virginia  with  her  father,  was  never  married,  and  died  at  Wes- 
tover. 


88  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  This  comes  at  last  to  bring  you  the  news  that  I  believe 
will  be  most  agreeable  to  you  of  any  you  have  ever  heard. 
That  you  may  not  be  long  in  suspense  I  will  tell  you  at 
once.  I  am  empowered  by  your  father  to  let  you  know  that 
he  heartily  and  willingly  consents  to  your  marriage  with 
Miss  Dandriclge  ;  that  he  has  so  good  a  character  of  her 
that  he  rather  you  should  have  her  than  any  lady  in  Vir 
ginia — nay,  if  possible,  he  is  as  much  enamoured  with  her 
character  as  you  are  with  her  person,  and  this  is  owing 
chiefly  to  a  prudent  speech  of  her  own.  Hurry  down  im 
mediately,  for  fear  he  should  change  the  strong  inclination 
he  has  to  your  marrying  directly.  I  stayed  with  him  all 
night,  and  presented  Jack*  with  my  little  Jack's  horse,  bri 
dle,  and  saddle,  in  your  name,  which  was  taken  as  a  singu 
lar  favor.  J.  POWER."  t 

Mr.  Custis  had  already  obtained  the  consent  of  Colonel 
Dandridge  to  marry  his  daughter.*  Within  an  hour  after  he 
received  Power's  message,  the  lover  was  in  the  saddle  on 
the  way  to  the  mansion  of  his  affianced  with  his  father's 
written  pledge  of  acquiescence.  There  he  tarried  a  day  and 
a  night.  All  the  preliminaries  for  their  speedy  wedding 
were  arranged,  and  in  less  than  three  weeks  afterwards  their 
nuptials  were  celebrated. 

At  this  time  Daniel  Parke  Custis  had  a  delightful  resi 
dence  known  as  "The  White  House,"  on  the  Pamunkey 

*  Jack  was  a  small  negro  boy  to  whom  Colonel  Custis  had  taken  such  a 
fancy  that  when  his  son  Daniel  positively  refused  to  marry  Evelyn  Byrd, 
he  made  a  will  bequeathing  all  his  fortune  to  this  boy.  Through  the 
solicitations  of  his  friends  and  the  power  of  his  paternal  feelings,  when 
his  passion  had  subsided  he  destroyed  the  will.  Then  he  manumitted 
the  boy,  and  provided  his  mother,  Alice,  with  a  comfortable  maintenance. 

f  Copied  from  an  autograph  letter  at  Arlington  House. 


MARTHA  DANDRIDGE'S  MARRIAGE.  89 

River,  in  New  Kent  County.  Around  it  lay  his  large  landed 
estate.  He  was  a  kind-hearted,  generous,  just,  and  amiable 
young  man,  beloved  by  his  friends,  his  neighbors,  and  his 
servants. 

A  few  miles  from  the  White  House  stood  St.  Peter's 
Church.  It  was  built  in  1703  at  a  cost  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco,  then  a  part  of  the 
currency  of  Virginia.  At  the  time  we  are  considering,  the 
Rev.  David  Mossum  had  been  its  rector  more  than  twenty 
years.  He  was  superior  in  character  and  attainments  to 
most  of  the  clergy  of  the  Established  Church  in  Virginia, 
who,  as  a  rule,  had  not  been  trustworthy  guides  and  exem 
plars  in  religion  and  morals.*  Mossum  was  from  Newbury- 
port,  Massachusetts,  and  was  the  first  native-born  American 
admitted  to  the  office  of  Presbyter  in  the  Church  of  Eng 
land.  He  had  been  married  four  times.  He  was  now  ir 
ritable  in  temper  and  morose  in  disposition,  made  so,  it  was 
said,  by  being  continually  harassed  by  his  fourth  wife,  who 
was  a  shrew  he  could  not  tame.  He  sometimes  displayed 
his  petulance  in  the  pulpit. 

On  one  occasion  he  had  quarrelled  with  the  clerk  in  the 
vestry,  and  he  assailed  him  in  the  sermon  that  followed. 
The  clerk  was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  retaliated  by  giv 
ing  out  from  the  desk  the  psalm  beginning  with  the  lines, 

*  "  Your  clergy  in  these  parts  are  a  very  ill  example,"  wrote  the  Rev. 
Nicholas  Moreau,  of  St.  Peter's  parish,  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  at  the 
close  of  the  seventeenth  century.  "No  discipline  nor  canons  of  the 
Church  are  observed.  Several  ministers  have  caused  such  high  scandal 
of  late,  and  have  raised  such  prejudices  among  the  people  against  the 
clergy,  that  hardly  can  they  be  persuaded  to  take  a  clergyman  into  their 
parish." 


9°  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  With  restless  and  ungovern'd  rage 

Why  do  the  heathen  storm  ? 
\Vhy  on  such  rash  attempts  engage 
As  they  can  ne'er  perform  ?" 

The  nuptials  of  Daniel  Parke  Custis  and  Martha  Dan- 
d ridge  were  celebrated  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  on  a  pleasant 
morning  in  June,  1749,  when  the  bride  was  seventeen  years 
of  age.  She  was  "given  away"  by  Colonel  Dandridge. 
Among  the  happiest  faces  seen  on  the  occasion  was  that  of 
the  venerable  John  Custis,  father  of  the  bridegroom,  who, 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony,  saluted  his  beautiful 
daughter-in-law  with  a  kiss  on  both  cheeks.  The  assem 
bled  company  of  friends  rode  from  the  church  to  the  White 
House,  the  wedded  pair  in  a  coach  drawn  by  four  white 
horses,  flanked  by  six  young  black  outriders  dressed  in 
white.  A  sumptuous  entertainment  was  given  at  the  man 
sion  to  friends  and  relatives  and  the  gentry  of  the  sur 
rounding  country;  and  the  servants,  enjoying  a  holiday, 
were  made  happy  with  feasting  and  presents. 

In  his  first  letter  written  to  his  agent  in  London  (Robert 
Gary)  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Custis  wrote .  "  I  desire  a 
handsome  watch  for  my  wife,  a  pattern  like  the  one  you 
bought  for  Mrs.  Burwell,  with  her  name  around  the  dial. 
There  are  just  twelve  letters  in  her  name,  MARTHA  CUSTIS, 
a  letter  for  each  hour  marked  on  the  dial-plate."* 

This  watch  is  still  in  existence.  It  has  a  singular  history. 
Mrs.  Washington  presented  it  to  one  of  her  four  nieces 
(Miss  Dandridge)  who  lived  at  Mount  Vernon  with  her 
aunt  after  Washington's  death.  This  niece  afterwards  be- 

*  Copied  from  the  first  draft  of  the  letter  at  Arlington  House,  in  1853. 


MR.  AND    MRS.  CUSTIS. 


came  Mrs.  Halyburton,  and  survived  her  aunt  about  thirty 
years.  The  watch  remained  in  her  family  until  after  the 
late  Civil  War.  The  ruin 
which  that  catastrophe 
wrought  in  the  fortunes  of 
the  family  compelled  them 
to  sell  the  watch.  It  was 
sent  to  New  York  for  the 
purpose.  A  generous  citizen 
of  Newburg,  on  the  Hud 
son  (the  late  Enoch  Carter), 
bought  the  watch  and  depos 
ited  it  among  the  relics  in 
Washington's  head-quarters  at 
Newburg,  where  it  now  (1886) 
is* 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Custis  enjoy 
ed   a  happy  wedded   life  for 

about  seven  years.  They  were  always  welcome  visitors 
among  the  dwellers  in  the  Virginia  capital,  and  indulged 
much  in  its  gayeties  in  the  winter  season.  The  husband 
was  a  special  favorite  of  the  burly  Scotch  governor,  Din- 
widdie.  When,  early  in  1755,  the  French  and  Indian  War 
had  begun,  the  governor  made  Custis  lieutenant  of  Kent 
County,  and  soon  afterwards  commissioned  him  colonel  of 

*  The  engraving  is  an  exact  representation  of  this  watch  in  size  and 
figure.  It  has  a  gold  case,  with  a  circle  of  white  enamel  inlaid  with 
gold  around  the  edges  of  the  face  and  back.  Over  each  numeral  of  the 
dial  may  be  seen  a  letter  of  the  name  of  MARTHA  CUSTIS,  beginning  at 
figure  i.  The  enamel  of  the  face,  or  dial,  is  broken.  The  watch  was 
made  by  Bawie,  London. 


MARTHA    CUSTIS'S    WATCH. 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


DANIEL    PARKE   CUSTIS- 


the  militia  of  his  district.  He  was  about  to  call  him  to  a 
seat  in  his  council,  when  Death  summoned  the  master  of 
the  White  House  from  the  earth. 

Four  children  had  blessed  this  union  of  Daniel  Parke 


CHILDREN    OF    MARTHA    CUSTIS. 


93 


MARTHA    CUSTIS. 


Custis  with  Martha  Dandridge.  The  two  elder  children  had 
died  while  they  were  very  young,  within  a  month  of  each 
other.  This  affliction  bore  with  such  crushing  weight  upon 
the  affectionate  father  that  his  physical  health  became  so 


94  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

impaired  that  when,  in  the  spring  of  1757,  he  was  attacked 
by  bilious  fever,  he  had  not  strength  sufficient  to  resist  the 
destroyer.  He  died  at  the  age  of  about  forty-five  years. 

Mrs.  Custis  was  left  a  widow  with  two  children  (John 
Parke  and  Martha  Parke)  at  the  age  of  a  little  more  than 
twenty-four  years.  Her  husband  had  died  intestate,  leaving 
a  very  large  estate,  real  and  personal.  She  employed  as 
her  legal  adviser  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  then  a  rising 
young  lawyer  at  Williamsburg,  who  afterwards  filled  a  con 
spicuous  place  in  the  legal  and  political  history  of  Virginia. 
He  was  a  friend  of  her  husband,  and  was  eminently  trust 
worthy.  Pursuant  to  his  advice  she  was  appointed  sole  ad 
ministrator  of  the  great  estate.  She  employed  a  trusty 
steward  and  other  agents.  Directing  her  affairs  herself 
with  these  competent  assistants,  everything  was  managed 
with  great  prudence,  and  very  soon  all  things  pertaining  to 
the  settlement  of  the  estate  were  well  adjusted. 

Martha  Custis  was  now  one  of  the  wealthiest  widows  in 
Virginia.  Her  husband  had  inherited'  the  large  estate  of 
his  father,  and  this,  with  his  own  property,  became  the  pos 
session  of  his  wife  and  children.  Her  portion  consisted  of 
lands  and  money,  the  legal  evidences  of  which,  in  the  form 
of  deeds,  mortgages,  bonds,  and  certificates  of  deposits  in 
the  Bank  of  England,  were  contained  in  a  strong  iron  box 
which  was  at  Arlington  House  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  Civil  War. 

About  a  year  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Custis 
was  visiting  a  friend,  the  owner  of  a  large  estate,  who  occu 
pied  a  fine  mansion  not  far  from  the  White  House  on  the 
same  side  of  the  Pamunkey.  That  friend  was  Major  Will 
iam  Chamberlayne,  who,  with  her  father  and  husband,  had 


MARTHA    CUSTIS    MEETS    WASHINGTON.  95 

been  vestryman  of  St.  Peter's.  His  dwelling  was  at  a  pub 
lic  crossing  of  the  river  known  as  Williams's  Ferry. 

On  the  day  after  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Custis  at  the  house 
of  Major  Chamberlayne,  a  young  officer  of  stately  figure 
and  of  noble  mien  and  bearing,  in  military  undress,  riding 
a  powerful  chestnut-brown  horse  and  accompanied  by  an 
elderly  servant  almost  as  tall  as  himself  and  quite  as  mili 
tary  in  his  manner,  crossed  the  ferry.  Major  Chamber 
layne  had  seen  them  embark  on  the  bateau  on  the  other 
side  of  the  stream  and  met  the  travellers  at  the  landing.  He 
recognized  the  young  officer,  and  pressed  him  to  accept  the 
hospitalities  of  his  house  for  a  day  or  two.  The  soldier 
declined,  giving  as  an  excuse  urgent  business  with  the  gov 
ernor  and  council  at  Williamsburg.  Major  Chamberlayne 
persisted  in  urging  him  to  tarry.  The  young  officer  still 
declined,  and  was  about  to  ride  on,  when  the  major  brought 
up  his  reserve  of  persuasion  by  telling  him  that  one  of  the 
most  charming  young  widows  in  all  Virginia  was  then  under 
his  roof.  The  soldier  made  a  conditional  surrender,  the 
terms  being  that  he  should  dine — only  dine— with  Major 
Chamberlayne  and  his  family. 

That  young  officer  was  Col.  George  Washington.  With 
him  was  his  colored  body-servant,  Thomas  Bishop,  who  had 
held  the  same  relation  to  General  Braddock,  and  at  whose 
dying  request  he  had  entered  the  service  of  this  gallant 
young  Virginian.  The  horse  which  Washington  rode,  the 
one  from  which  Braddock  fell,  mortally  wounded,  on  the 
field  of  Monongahela,  was  bequeathed  to  him  by  the  British 
general.  Bishop  was  ordered  to  stable  the  horses,  and 
have  them  ready  for  departure  at  a  specified  hour  in  the 
afternoon. 


96  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Major  Chamberlayne  and  his  guest  entered  the  house. 
The  fame  of  Colonel  Washington  was  then  resounding  in 
every  Virginia  household,  and  when  he  was  introduced  to 
the  several  guests  in  the  drawing-room  his  presence  pro 
duced  a  profound  impression  of  respect  and  admiration  be 
cause  of  his  elegant  figure,  his  courtly  bearing,  and  the 
deserved  honors  which  crowned  his  character.  Tradition 
says  that  he  and  Mrs.  Custis  were  mutually  pleased  at  the 
moment  of  the  introduction ;  that  it  was  a  notable  case  of 
'Move  at  first  sight."  The  hero  was  charmed — nay  spell 
bound,  by  the  beauty  of  the  person  and  the  fascinating 
manners  and  good  sense  of  the  young  widow. 

The  hours  sped  swiftly.  The  guests  lingered  long  at  the 
table — quite  beyond  the  time  appointed  for  the  departure 
of  Colonel  Washington.  Bishop,  punctual  as  Time,  had 
waited  at  the  gate  with  his  master's  steed  with  puzzled 
mind,  for  its  rider  had  never  been  tardy  before.  "  Ah, 
Bishop,"  wrote  a  fair  eye-witness,  describing  the  scene, 
"there  was  an  urchin  in  the  drawing-room  more  powerful 
than  King  George  and  all  his  governors !  Subtle  as  a 
sphynx,  he  had  hidden  the  important  despatches  from  the 
soldier's  sight,  shut  up  his  ears  from  the  summons  of  the 
telltale  clock,  and  was  playing  such  pranks  with  the  'brav 
est  heart  in  Christendom  that  it  fluttered  with  the  excess  of 
a  new-found  happiness  !" 

Colonel  Washington  had  been  moved  by  the  tender  pas 
sion  several  times  before.  While  he  was  yet  a  lad  his  heart 
was  inflamed  with  love  for  Mary  Bland,  whose  charms  drew 
from  him  some  sentimental  verses  addressed  to  his  "  Low 
land  Beauty."  Before  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
became  enamoured  of  the  beautiful  sister  of  the  wife  of  his 


A    CAPTURE.  97 

friend  George  Fairfax,  and  he  wrote  to  his  young  friend, 
Henry  Lee : 

"I  pass  my  time  very  pleasantly,  as  there  is  a  very  agree 
able  young  lady  who  lives  in  the  same  house  ;  but  as  that 
is  only  adding  fuel  to  fire,  it  makes  me  the  more  uneasy,  for 
by  often  and  unavoidably  being  in  company  with  her,  re 
vives  my  former  passion  for  your  Lowland  Beauty,*  whereas, 
were  I  to  live  more  retired  from  young  women,  I  might,  in 
some  measure,  alleviate  my  sorrows  by  burying  that  chaste 
and  troublesome  passion  in  the  grave  of  oblivion." 

A  few  years  later,  while  on  his  way  to  Boston  on  a  mili 
tary  errand  to  Governor  Shirley  (as  he  was  now  to  Gov 
ernor  Fauquier),  Major  Washington  was  so  impressed  with 
the  charms  of  Mary  Phillipse,  sister  of  Mrs.  Col.  Beverly 
Robinson,  at  New  York,  that  he  then  lingered  long  in  her 
company,  and  resolved  to  offer  her  his  heart  and  hand  ;  but 
while  wooing  courage  to  make  the  proposal,  his  companion- 
in  -  arms,  Major  Roger  Morris,  captured  the  damsel  as  a 
matrimonial  prize. 

The  sun  had  touched  the  western  horizon  when  Colonel 
Washington  arose  to  depart.  Major  Chamberlayne,  who 
had  watched  his  lingering  in  conversation  with  Mrs.  Custis 
with  amusement  and  satisfaction,  said, 

"  No  guest  ever  leaves  my  house  after  sunset." 

The  colonel  was  not  loath  to  stay.  He  and  the  young 
widow  lingered  long  in  conversation  in  the  drawing-room 

*  Henry  Lee  married  Mary  Bland,  Washington's  first  love.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Col.  Richard  Bland,  of  Prince  George's  County.  She  be 
came  the  mother  of  "  Legion  Harry"  Lee  of  the  Revolution,  the  father 
of  the  late  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Confederate 
forces  at  near  the  close  of  the  late  Civil  War. 

7 


98 


MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


COLONEL   WASHINGTON    AND    MRS.   CUSTIS. 


after  the  other  guests  had  retired,  and  the  sun  had  risen 
high  in  the  firmament  the  next  morning  when  he  took  leave 
of  the  fascinating  lady  and  the  hospitable  host.  The  blos 
soms  of  May  never  appeared  so  fragrant  to  him  as  on  that 


THE    ENGAGEMENT.  99 


thoughtful  journey  from  the  Pamunkey  to  Williamsburg. 
He  finished  his  business  there  with  all  possible  despatch, 
and  retraced  his  journey  to  the  Pamunkey.  He  turned 
from  the  road  to  Williams's  Ferry,  and  reined  up  at  the 
White  House  at  near  sunset,  where  he  was  graciously  re 
ceived  by  its  mistress.  It  was  the  evening  of  a  delicious 
late  May  day  in  1758.  The  love-bound  soldier  remained 
until  late  the  next  day,  when  he  and  Bishop  departed  for 
the  ferry.  It  was  during  this  visit  that  George  Washington 
and  Martha  Custis  plighted  their  troth  to  each  other. 

Months,  weary  months  of  service  in  the  field  by  the  gal 
lant  soldier,  intervened  before  the  nuptials  of  the  happy 
couple.  Letters  passed  between  them  at  irregular  intervals. 
Only  one  of  these  epistles,  so  far  as  I  know,  has  escaped 
destruction.  It  was  written  by  Washington  near  Fort 
Cumberland,  in  July,  1758. 

"We  have  begun  our  march  for  the  Ohio,"  he  wrote. 
"  A  Courier  is  starting  for  Williamsburg,  and  I  embrace  the 
opportunity  to  send  a  few  words  to  one  whose  life  is  now 
inseparable  from  mine.  Since  that  happy  hour  when  we 
made  our  pledges  to  each  other,  my  thoughts  have  been 
continually  going  to  you  as  to  another  Self.  That  an  All- 
powerful  Providence  may  keep  us  both  in  safety  is  the 
prayer  of  your  ever  faithful  & 

"  Ever  affectionate  Friend 

"  G.  WASHINGTON.* 

"  2Oth  of  July. 

"  Mrs.  MARTHA  CUSTIS." 

Washington  had  hastened  back  to  camp  at  Fort  Cum- 
*  Copied  from  the  autograph  at  Arlington  House. 


IOO  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

berland,  and  soon  was  begun  the  march  towards  the  forks  of 
the  Ohio,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the»post  of  Fort 
Duquesne  late  in  November.  The  French  had  abandoned 
the  fort,  set  it  on  fire,  and  by  its  light  fled  down  the  Ohio 
in  boats  at  midnight.  The  troops  under  Washington's  com 
mand  hoisted  the  British  flag  over  the  smoking  ruins,  and 
the  name  of  the  stronghold  was  changed  to  Fort  Pitt,  in 
honor  of  England's  great  commoner,  then  prime-minister. 
Washington  left  a  small  garrison  to  hold  the  post,  marched 
the  remainder  of  his  troops  to  Winchester,  and  proceeded 
himself  to  Williamsburg.  Having  determined,  if  the  cam 
paign  should  prove  successful,  to  .retire  from  the  army,  he 
now  settled  all  his  public  accounts,  and  in  the  last  week  in 
December,  1758,  he  resigned  his  commission,  after  a  contin 
uous  service  of  more  than  five  years. 

While  he  was  engaged  in  the  campaign  of  1758,  Colonel 
Washington  had  been  elected  a  representative  of  Frederick 
County  in  the  Virginia  Assembly.  He  received  a  large 
plurality  of  votes  over  three  opposing  candidates.*  This 
result  was  exceedingly  gratifying  to  him,  for  his  constituents 
were  the  people  among  whom  he  had  long  held  military 
command.  From  that  time  until  the  beginning  of  the  old 
war  for  independence,  a  period  of  about  fifteen  years,  Colo 
nel  Washington  was  continuously  a  member  of  the  Virginia 


*  This  election  cost  Colonel  Washington  about  $90.  Among  the 
items  of  charge  which  have  been  preserved  are  a  hogshead  and  a  bar 
rel  of  punch,  thirty-five  gallons  of  wine,  forty-three  gallons  of  strong 
beer,  cider,  and  dinner  for  his  friends.  Colonel  Ward,  who  represented 
Washington  at  the  election,  when  the  result  was  known,  was  carried 
around  the  village  of  Winchester  on  the  shoulders  of  men,  while  the 
people  shouted  huzzas  for  Colonel  Washington. 


THE    MARRIAGE.  IOI 

House  of  Burgesses,  chosen  at  successive  elections  by  large 
majorities.  He  was  a  representative  of  Frederick  and  Fair 
fax  counties  at  different  times. 

On  his  way  from  Mount  Vernon  to  Williamsburg,  to  take 
his  seat  in  the  Virginia  Assembly  the  first  time,  late  in  De 
cember,  Colonel  Washington  spent  a  day  or  two  at  the 
White  House,  when  the  time  for  the  solemnization  of  his 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Custis  was  determined.  It  was  fixed 
for  the  sixth  of  January  (old  style),  1759,  about  three  weeks 
in  the  future.  On  that  day,  the  air  clear  and  cold,  a 
multitude  of  people  assembled  at  the  little  church  of  St. 
Peter,  to  witness  the  marriage  of  the  widowed  daughter  of 
Colonel  Dandridge  to  another  noble  husband.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Mossum  again  performed  the  nuptial  ceremonies.  The 
assemblage  of  friends  and  neighbors  of  the  bride  at  the 
old  fane  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  in  character  and  in 
costume  ever  before  seen  in  a  church  in  Virginia.  The 
officiating  clergyman  was  robed  in  full  canonicals.  The 
bridegroom  was  clothed  in  a  suit  of  blue  cloth,  the  coat 
lined  with  red  silk  and  ornamented  with  silver  trimmings. 
His  waistcoat  was  of  white  satin,  embroidered ;  his  shoe 
and  knee  buckles  were  gold ;  his  hair  was  powdered,  and 
by  his  side  hung  a  straight  dress -sword.  The  bride  was 
attired  in  a  white  satin  quilted  petticoat,  and  a  heavy,  corded 
white  silk  overskirt  ;*  high-heeled  shoes  of  white  satin,  with 

*  Before  me,  while  I  write,  lies  (the  property  of  a  friend)  a  piece  of 
Mrs.  Washington's  wedding-dress.  It  is  heavy  corded  white  silk,  in 
terwoven  with  silver  threads.  Also  a  piece  of  the  white  satin  ribbon, 
brocaded  with  leaves,  which  was  worn  by  Mrs.  Washington  on  that  oc 
casion.  It  is  about  two  inches  in  width,  and  forms  a  part  of  a  book 
mark,  the  design  elegantly  wrought  with  colored  silks  on  finely  perforated 


102  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

diamond  buckles;  rich  point-lace  ruffles;  pearl  necklace, 
ear-rings,  and  bracelet;  and  pearl  ornaments  in  her  hair. 
She  was  attended  by  three  bridesmaids.  Among  the  at 
tendants  in  the  church  were  Lieutenant-governor  Fauquier 
and  his  wife,  and  the  neighboring  gentry ;  several  English 
army  and  navy  officers,  then  in  colonial  service,  and  many 
distinguished  members  of  the  Virginia  Legislature.  The 
governor  was  in  a  full  dress  of  scarlet  cloth,  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  wore  a  bag -wig  and  a  dress -sword.  The 
group  of  officers,  civil  and  military,  made  a  brilliant  appear 
ance.  One  of  the  most  notable  figures  there,  seen  standing 
on  the  porch,  was  Bishop,  Washington's  body-servant,  tall 
and  stately  in  appearance,  and  dressed  in  the  scarlet  uni 
form  of  a  soldier  of  the  royal  army  in  the  reign  of  George 
II.,  who  was  booted  and  spurred,  and  who  held  the  bridle- 
reins  of  his  master's  favorite  charger.  On  leaving  the 
church  the  bride  and  her  attendant  ladies  rode  back  to  the 
White  House  in  a  coach  drawn  by  six  horses,  guided  by 
liveried  black  postilions,  while  Colonel  Washington,  upon 
his  magnificent  horse,  richly  caparisoned,  attended  by  a  brill 
iant  cortege  of  gay  and  cultured  gentlemen,  rode  by  the 
side  of  his  beautiful  bride.  The  entertainment  at  the  White 
House,  as  on  a  former  occasion,  was  sumptuous. 

paper  by  the  fingers  of  Mrs.  Lewis  (Nelly  Custis),  a  granddaughter  of 
Mrs.  Washington  and  a  foster-child  of  the  general.  These  precious 
mementos  of  Martha  Washington  were  presented  by  Mrs.  Lewis  to 
Mrs.  Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton.  They  were  found  among  Mrs.  Ham 
ilton's  effects  after  her  death,  with  a  written  certificate  of  their  genuine 
ness,  and  were  presented  by  Mrs.  Philip  Hamilton,  her  daughter-in-law. 
The  design  of  the  book-mark  is  composed  of  a  cross  intertwined  with 
grape-leaves,  a  Bible,  and  a  chalice  standing  upon  it,  symbolizing  the 
eucharist.  See  the  last  page  in  this  book. 


AN  OLD  SERVANT'S  RECOLLECTIONS.  103 

"  I  have  heard  much  of  that  marriage  from  the  lips  of 
old  servants  who  were  participants  in  the  gay  scene,"  said 
Mr.  Custis  to  me.  "  There  was  one  named  Cully,  whose 
enthusiasm  would  kindle  whenever  the  subject  was  touched 
upon.  I  said  to  him  one  day,  when  he  was  in  the  one  hun 
dredth  year  of  his  age, 

"  *  And  so,  Cully,  you  remember  when  Colonel  Washing 
ton  came  a-courting  of  your  mistress  ?' 

"  '  Indeed  I  do,  master,'  said  Cully.  *  He  was  dar  on'y 
fo'  times  afo'  de  wedding,  for  you  see  he  was  in  de  war  all 
de  time.  We  couldn't  keep  our  eyes  off  him,  he  seemed  so 
grand.  An'  Bishop  'peared  mos'  as  grand  as  he.' 

"  '  And  the  wedding,  Cully,'  I  said. 

" '  Great  times,  sir  !  great  times  !'  said  Cully,  his  eyes 
sparkling  with  delight  at  the  recollection.  '  Shall  never 
see  de  like  agin.  Mo'  hosses  an'  car'ges,  an'  fine  ladies  an' 
gen'lmen  dan  when  Missus  was  married  afo'.' 

"  '  And  Colonel  Washington,  how  did  he  look,  Cully  ?'  I 
asked. 

"  '  Neber  see'd  de  like,  sir  !  neber  de  likes  of  him,  tho'  I've 
seen  many  in  my  day.  He  was  so  tall,  so  straight,  so  han'- 
some  !  an'  he  set  a  hoss  and  rid  wid  such  an  air !  Oh,  he 
was  so  grand  !  Ah,  sir,  he  was  like  no  one  else.  Many  of 
de  grandest  gen'lmen  in  gold  lace  was  at  de  weddin',  but 
none  look'd  like  de  man  hisself.' 

"  *  And  your  mistress  ?'  I  said,  inquiringly. 

"  Cully  raised  both  hands  and  his  eyes  towards  the  sky, 
and  said, '  Oh,  she  was  so  bootiful  an'  so  good  !'  " 


CHAPTER  II. 

COLONEL  WASHINGTON  did  not  take  his  bride  to  Mount 
Vernon  immediately,  but  resided  at  the  White  House  for 
about  three  months,  meanwhile  attending  the  '  sessions  of 
the  House  of  Burgesses.  He  engaged  in  arranging  the  af 
fairs  of  Mrs.  Washington's  large  estate,  preparatory  to  her 
leaving  the  banks  of  the  Pamunkey  for  those  of  the  Poto 
mac.  He  at  once  assumed  the  guardianship  of  her  chil 
dren,  John  Parke  and  Martha  Parke  Custis,  and  the  care 
of  their  share  of  their  father's  estate.  To  Robert  Cary,  of 
London,  agent  of  Mr.  Custis's  estate,  he  wrote,  on  May  i, 


"The  enclosed  is  the  clergyman's  certificate  of  my  mar 
riage  with  Mrs.  Martha  Custis,  properly,  I  am  told,  authen 
ticated.  You  will  therefore,  for  the  future,  address  all  your 
letters  which  relate  to  the  affairs  of  the  late  Daniel  Parke 
Custis  to  me,  as  by  marriage  I  am  entitled  to  a  third  part  of 
that  estate  [the  remainder  was  equally  divided  between  the 
two  children],  and  am  invested,  likewise,  with  the  care  of  the 
other  two-thirds  by  a  decree  of  our  General  Court,  which  I 
obtained  in  order  to  strengthen  the  power  I  before  had  in 
consequence  of  my  wife's  administration." 

During  their  residence  at  the  White  House  a  session  of 
the  Virginia  Legislature  occurred,  which  Colonel  Washing 
ton  attended,  as  we  have  observed.  Mrs.  Washington  spent 
much  of  the  period  of  that  session  with  her  husband  at 


THE    ESTATE   AT    MOUNT   VERNON.  105 

the  capital,  participating  in  the  usual  gayeties  of  the  court. 
Both  had  a  keen  relish  for  amusements.  They  were  of 
nearly  the  same  age.  Washington  was  born  in  February, 
and  his  wife  in  May,  1732.  I  have  described  the  person  of 
Mrs.  Washington  at  the  time  of  her  first  marriage.  She  was 
now  very  little  changed  in  person — rather  more  matronly  in 
appearance.  Washington  was  six  feet  in  stature,  admirably 
proportioned,  spare  in  flesh,  and  weighed  about  two  hundred 
pounds.  His  hair  was  a  rich,  dark  brown,  like  that  of  his 
wife,  and  his  eyes  were  a  grayish-blue,  and  expressive  of 
deep  thought.  His  complexion  was  florid,  and  his  features 
were  regular  and  rather  heavy.  Mrs.  Washington  always 
dressed  with  scrupulous  regard  to  the  requirements  of  the 
best  fashions  of  the  day.  It  was  her  habit  to  accompany 
her  husband  at  Williamsburg  during  every  session  of  the 
Assembly,  and  she  was,  in  every  respect,  a  brilliant  member 
of  the  social  circles  which,  before  the  Revolution,  composed 
the  vice-regal  court  at  the  old  Virginia  capital. 

Colonel  Washington  possessed  an  ample  fortune  inde 
pendent  of  that  of  his  wife,  which  added  to  it  about  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  His  estate  at  Mount  Vernon 
was  situated,  he  wrote,  "  in  a  high,  healthy  country,  in  a  lati 
tude  between  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  on  one  of  the 
finest  rivers  in  the  world — a  river  well  stocked  with  various 
kinds  of  fish  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and  in  the  spring 
with  shad,  herrings,  bass,  carp,  sturgeon,  etc.,  in  abundance. 
The  borders  of  the  estate,"  he  continued,  "  are  washed  by 
more  than  ten  miles  of  tide-water,  several  valuable  fisheries 
appertain  to  it ;  the  whole  shore,  in  fact,  is  one  entire  fish- 
ery." 

The  mansion,  we  have  observed,  was  two  stories  in  height 


106  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

and  had  four  rooms  on  each  floor.  A  lawn  sloping  towards 
the  high  river-bank  was  shaded  by  stately  trees  of  the  pri 
meval  forest.  The  surface  of  the  river  before  it  abounded 
with  water-fowl  in  their  season,  and  the  white  wings  of  com 
merce,  connected  with  the  port  of  Alexandria  above,  enliven 
ed  its  placid  bosom.  Such  was  the  home  to  which  Colonel 
Washington  took  his  bride  in  the  spring  of  1759,  and  crown 
ed  her  queen  of  it — the  happy  beginning  of  a  domestic  reign 
for  the  space  of  forty  years.  His  cup  of  happiness  seemed 
full.  To  a  kinsman  in  London  he  wrote,  "  I  am  now,  I  be 
lieve,  fixed  in  this  spot  with  an  agreeable  partner  for  life ; 
and  I  hope  to  find  more  happiness  in  retirement  than  I  ever 
experienced  in  the  wide  and  bustling  world." 

Almost  every  manufactured  article  used  in  Virginia  at 
that  time  was  imported.  The  absurd  and  blindly  selfish 
laws  of  Great  Britain  forbade  the  pursuits  of  many  product 
ive  industries  in  its  American  colonies,  in  order  to  secure  a 
monopoly  for  her  home  mechanics,  manufacturers,  and  mer 
chants.  The  wealthy  colonists  were  continually  sending  to 
London  for  supplies.  Their  orders  included  almost  every 
article  designed  for  domestic  use  —  even  the  garments  of 
men,  women,  and  children.  They  depended  upon  the  tai 
lors  and  dress-makers  of  London  for  fashionable  clothes. 
We  find  Washington  writing  to  his  kinsman,  Richard  Wash 
ington,  concerning  clothes  which  he  desires  him  to  purchase 
and  send  by  the  first  ship  bound  for  the  Potomac. 

"  As  they  are  designed  for  wearing-apparel  for  myself," 
Washington  wrote,  "  I  have  committed  the  choice  of  them 
to  your  fancy,  having  the  best  opinion  of  your  taste.  I 
want  neither  lace  nor  embroidery.  Plain  clothes,  with  gold 
or  silver  buttons,  if  worn  on  genteel  dress,  are  all  that  I 


IMPORTATION    OF    FAMILY   CLOTHING.  107 

desire.  I  have  hitherto  had  my  clothes  made  by  one 
Charles  Laurence.  Whether  it  be  the  fault  of  the  Tailor, 
or  of  the  measure  sent,  I  cannot  say,  but,  certain  it  is,  my 
clothes  have  never  fitted  me  well.  I  therefore  leave  the 
choice  of  the  workmen  to  you.  I  enclose  a  measure,  and, 
for  a  further  direction,  I  think  it  not  amiss  to  add,  that  my 
stature  is  six  feet ;  otherwise  rather  slender  than  corpulent." 

As  a  bachelor  Colonel  Washington  ordered  only  a  man's 
clothing,  articles  for  use  on  the  farms,  and  implements  and 
furniture  for  his  household.  In  a  duplicate  order  before 
me,  he  directs  his  correspondent  to  send  him  "  a  superfine 
blue  cotton  velvet  suit,  for  a  tall  man,  with  garters  for  the 
breeches;"  several  pairs  of  shoes  and  "pumps"  made  over 
a  specified  last;  riding  gloves;  "worked  ruffles  at  20^.  a 
pair;"  saddle,  bridle,  and  "housings  of  fine  blue  cloth  with 
a  small  edging  of  embroidery  around  them." 

In  the  summer  after  Washington's  marriage  far  different 
items  abound  in  his  orders.  For  example,  "  i  salmon  col 
ored  tabby  velvet  of  the  enclosed  pattern,  with  satin  flowers, 
to  be  made  in  a  sack  and  coat ;  i  cap,  handkerchief,  tucker 
[a  piece  of  lace  or  linen  pinned  to  the  top  of  a  woman's 
stays]  and  ruffles,  to  be  made  of  Brussels  lace  or  Point, 
proper  to  be  worn  with  the  above  negligee,  to  cost  £20;  2 
fine  flowered  lawn  aprons  ;  2  double  handkerchiefs ;  2  pairs 
of  woman's  white  silk  hose ;  6  pairs  fine  cotton  do. ;  4  pairs 
four  threaded  do. ;  i  pair  black  and  i  pair  white  satin 
shoes  of  the  smallest  fives ;  4  pair  callimanco  [woollen  stuff] 
shoes ;  i  fashionable  hat  or  bonnet ;  6  pairs  woman's  best 
kid  gloves  ;  6  pairs  mitts  ;  i  doz.  knots  and  breast-knots  ;  i 
doz.  round  silk  stay-laces  ;  i  black  mask  ;  i  doz.  most  fash 
ionable  cambric  pocket  handkerchiefs ;  2  pairs  neat  small 


io8 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


scissors ;  real  Minikin  [very  small]  pins  and  hair  -  pins ;  6 
pounds  perfumed  powder ;  a  puckered  petticoat  of  fashion 
able  color;  a  silver  tabby  velvet  petticoat;  2  handsome 
breast  flowers  ;  sugar-candy,"  etc. 

In  1761  Colonel  Washington  ordered  the  following  arti 
cles  for  "  Master  Custis,  eight  years  old  :" 

"  One  handsome  suit  of  Winter  Clothes ;  a  suit  of  Sum 
mer  clothes  ;  2  pieces  Nankeens  with  trimmings ;  i  silver 
laced  hat ;  6  pr.  fine  cotton  stock 
ings  ;  i  pr.  fine  worsted  ditto ;  4  pr. 
strong  shoes ;  i  pr.  neat  pumps ;  i 
pr.  gloves ;  2  hair  -  bags  ;  i  piece  of 
ribbon  for  ditto ;  i  pr.  silver  shoe 
and  knee  buckles ;  i  pr.  sleeve  but 
tons  ;  a  small  Bible  neatly  bound  in 
Turkey,  and  JOHN  PARKE  CUSTIS 
wrote  in  gilt  letters  on  the  inside  of 
the  cover ;  a  neat  small  Prayer  Book 
bound  as  above,  with  John  Parke 
Custis,  as  above." 

At  this  age  a  young  liveried  serv 
ant  was  assigned  to  attend  upon  Mas 
ter  Custis  on  occasions,  and  Washington  ordered  the  fol 
lowing  articles  of  dress  for  him  :  "  3  prs.  shoes  for  a  boy 
14  years  old ;  three  prs.  coarse  stockings  for  do. ;  a  suit  of 
livery  clothes  and  a  hat  for  a  boy  14  years  old.  No*'-— 
Let  the  livery  be  suited  to  the  arms  of  the  Custis  family."5' 

*  The  arms  of  the  Custis  family  worn  on  the  livery  was  simply  a 
spread-eagle,  white,  on  a  red  ground.  The  crest  was  the  head  and  neck 
of  a  griffin. 


ARMS   OF   THE  CUSTIS 
FAMILY. 


A    YOUNG    GIRL'S    WARDROBE.  1 09 

For  "  Miss  Custis,  6  years  old,"  he  ordered  : 
"  A  coat  made  of  fashionable  silk ;  a  fashionable  cap  or 
fillet,  with  bib  apron  ;  ruffles  and  tucker  to  be  laced  ;  4  fash 
ionable  dresses  to  be  made  of  long  lawn ;  2  fine  cambrick 
frocks ;  a  satin  capuchin  hat  and  neckatees ;  a  Persian, 
quilted  coat ; .  i  p.  pack-thread  stays  ;  4  pr  callimanco  and  6 
pr  leather  shoes ;  2  p.  satin  shoes  with  flat  ties ;  6  pr  fine 
cotton  and  4  p.  white  worsted  stockings  ;  12  pr.  mitts  and  6 
p.  white  kid  gloves ;  i  pair  silver  shoe-buckles ;  i  p.  neat 
sleeve  buttons  ;  6  handsome  egrettes  [an  ornament  for  the 
head,  then  much  used  by  people  of  fashion,  and  sometimes 
made  of  tufts  of  feathers,  diamonds,  etc.]  different  sorts ;  6 
yards  of  ribbon  for  egrettes ;  1000  minnikins  [very  fine  pins] ; 
1000  large,  and  3.000  short  white  pins  ;  a  small  Bible  bound 
in  Turkey,  and  MARTHA  PARKE  CUSTIS  wrote  on  the  inside 
in  gilt  letters ;  a  small  Prayer-Book,  neat  and  in  the  same 
manner;  12  yards  coarse  green  callimanco;  a  fashionable 
dressed  doll  to  cost  i  guinea,  and  i  do.  at  5^.;  a  box  of  gin 
gerbread,  toys  and  sugar  images  and  comfits.  The  above 
things  to  be  sent  in  a  strong  trunk,  separate  from  J.  P.  Cus- 
tis's,  whose  will  likewise  be  put  into  a  trunk,  each  having 
their  names.  One  very  good  spinet  [a  small  harpsichord] 
to  be  made  by  Mr.  Plinius,  harpsichord  maker,  in  South 
Audley  Street,  Grosvenor  Square.* 

"  It  is  begged  as  a  favor  that  Mr.  Gary  would  bespeak 
this  instrument  as  for  himself  or  a  friend,  and  not  let  it  be 
known  it  is  intended  for  exportation.  Send  a  good  assort- 


*  This  spinet  was  left  at  Arlington  House  when  Mrs.  Lee  (great- 
granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Washington)  and  her  family  left  for  Richmond  in 
the  spring  of  1861.  It  was  broken  up  and  carried  off  by  relic  seekers. 


110  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ment  of  spare  strings  to  it.  Books,  according  to  the  en 
closed  list,  to  be  charged  equally  to  both  John  Parke  Cus- 
tis  and  Martha  Parke  Custis — likewise  one  ream  of  writing 
paper." 


MRS.  WASHINGTON'S  CHILDREN. 


Mount  Vernon  now  having  an  accomplished  mistress  to 
preside  over  its  domestic  affairs,  and  its  hospitality  in  the 
entertainment  of  guests  who  formed  the  best  elements  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland  society,  Colonel  Washington  embel 
lished  his  mansion  with  new  furniture,  a  few  works  of  art, 
and  other  adornments,  in  accordance  with  the  taste  of  Mrs. 
Washington.  The  walls  of  the  bedchambers  were  beauti- 


HOME-LIFE    OF    WASHINGTON.  Ill 

fied  by  paper-hangings,  each  of  a  different  color,  and  these 
rooms  were  furnished  with  chairs  the  cloth  bottoms  of  which 
harmonized  in  tints  with  the  colors  on  the  walls.  I  copied 
at  Arlington  House  a  duplicate  order  for  plaster-cast  por 
traits  of  eminent  military  men,  etc.,  as  follows  : 

"  Directions  for  busts. — One  of  Alexander  the  Great;  an 
other  of  Julius  Caesar;  another  of  Charles  XII.  of  Sweden  ; 
and  a  fourth  of  the  King  of  Prussia  [Frederick  the  Great]. 
These  are  not  to  exceed  fifteen  inches  in  height  nor  ten  in 
width.  Two  other  busts  of  Prince  Eugene  and  the  Duke  of 
Marlborough,  somewhat  similar.  Two  wild  beasts  not  to 
exceed  twelve  inches  in  height  nor  eighteen  in  length.  Sun 
dry  ornaments  for  chimney-piece." 

Washington  admired  and  reverenced  the  great  men  he 
named  in  his  order,  especially  his  contemporary,  Frederick 
the  Great.  When,  more  than  a  score  of  years  afterwards, 
the  great  American  had  won  renown  equal,  in  just  estima 
tion,  to  that  of  the  most  illustrious  of  these  heroes,  he  re 
ceived  from  Frederick  a  portrait  of  that  great  Prussian 
monarch,  accompanied  with  these  words  :  "  From  the  Oldest 
General  in  Europe  to  the  Greatest  General  in  the  World." 

Life  at  Mount  Vernon  after  the  advent  of  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  old  war  for  independence 
was  in  accordance  with  that  at  the  homes  of  all  other  wealthy 
Virginia  planters  at  that  day,  and  partook  of  much  of  the 
style  of  the  English  aristocracy.  There  were  luxuries  in 
moderate  abundance  but  no  extravagance.  The  master  was 
thoughtful,  prudent,  and  methodical ;  the  mistress  was  a 
thorough  house-keeper,  looking  after  every  detail  of  house 
hold  affairs,  with  a  bunch  of  keys  always  hanging  at  her 
side,  and  directing  the  servants  in  all  their  labors.  At 


112  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

home  and  without  guests  she  was  always  seen  in  very  plain 
attire,  and  busy  with  brain  and  hands  from  early  morning 
until  night.  When  entertaining  guests  she  was  always 
dressed  quite  plainly  and  very  neatly,  but  when  she  was 
abroad  none  appeared  more  gay  and  fashionable  in  attire 
than  Mrs.  Washington. 

Mount  Vernon  was  seldom  without  guests.  The  master 
and  mistress  delighted  in  social  intercourse.  They  fre 
quently  visited  Annapolis,  the  capital  of  Maryland,  then 
noted  for  its  refined  society.  They  generously  reciprocated 
the  civilities  received.  When  they  were  at  home,  a  day  sel 
dom  passed  without  the  company  of  friends  or  strangers. 
Washington's  diaries  abound  with  notices  of  the  arrival  and 
departures  of  their  guests.  Among  them  may  be  seen  the 
names  of  governors  of  Virginia  and  Maryland,  and  eminent 
men  of  the  middle  and  southern  colonies,  who  were  after 
wards  conspicuous  in  our  country's  history.  The  eccentric 
old  Lord  Fairfax,  of  Greenway  Court,  was  a  very  frequent 
guest  at  Mount  Vernon  on  many  occasions. 

Washington  was  exceedingly  fond  of  the  chase,  and  in 
dulged  much  in  the  excitements  of  this  sport,  although,  as 
he  confessed,  he  was  not  an  expert  hunter.  At  the  proper 
season  he  would  be  out  hunting  foxes  and  deer  two  or 
three  times  a  week.  His  diaries  contain  entries  like  the 
following,  giving  the  result  of  a  day's  sport : 

"Went  a-hunting  with  Jacky  Custis,  and  catched  a  fox 
after  three  hours  chase ;  found  it  in  the  creek." 

"  Mr.  Bryan  Fairfax,  Mr.  Grayson,  and  Phil  Alexander 
came  home  by  sunrise.  Hunted  and  catched  a  fox  with 
these,  Lord  Fairfax,  his  brother,  and  Colonel  Fairfax — all 
of  whom  with  Mr.  Fairfax  and  Mr.  Wilson,  of  England, 


WASHINGTON   EQUIPPED    FOR   THE   CHASE. 


HUNTING   AND    SOCIAL    ENJOYMENTS.  115 

dined  here."  Two  days  afterwards  he  recorded:  "Hunted 
again  with  the  same  company." 

The  hunting  days  generally  ended  in  a  dinner  at  Mount 
Vernon,  or  at  Belvoir,  the  seat  of  the  Fairfaxes,  a  little  low 
er  down  the  Potomac. 

Dinner-parties  among  the  gentry  in  the  neighborhood 
were  very  frequent.  In  these  enjoyments  the  ladies  partici 
pated.  One  day  the  guests  would  dine  at  Mount  Vernon, 
on  another  day  at  Gunston  Hall,  on  another  day  at  Bel 
voir,  and  on  another,  perhaps,  at  Alexandria.  Entries  like 
the  following  may  be  seen  in  Washington's  diary,  sometimes 
as  often  as  three  days  in  a  week : 

"  With  Mrs.  Washington,  Mr.  Custis,  and  Miss  Custis, 
dined  at  Belvoir." 

Guests,  especially  the  sportsmen,  were  sometimes  enter 
tained  at  Mount  Vernon  for  weeks  during  the  hunting  sea 
son.  And  so  the  round  of  visiting  and  amusement  went  on 
for  years  in  a  style  and  at  an  expense  which  only  a  wealthy 
planter  could  afford.  "  Would  any  one  believe,"  Washing 
ton  wrote  in  his  diary  in  1768,  "that  with  a  hundred  and 
one  cows,  actually  reported  at  the  last  enumeration  of  the 
cattle,  I  should  still  be  obliged  to  buy  butter  for  my  family?" 

We  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  fine  herds  of  milk-pro 
ducers,  and  the  quality  of  their  products  for  making  butter 
of  our  day,  were  then  unknown. 

Colonel  Washington  was  very  fond  of  good  horses.  His 
stables  held  many  fine,  blooded  animals,  and  these  were  at 
the  service  of  his  guests.  Their  names,  like  those  of  his 
hounds,  were  all  registered  in  a  book.*  For  the  exclusive 


*  Among  the  names  of  his  horses  were   Chinkling,  Ajax,  Valiant, 


Il6  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

use  of  Mrs.  Washington  he  kept  a  chariot  and  four  horses, 
with  black  postilions  in  livery.*  This  equipage  was  fre 
quently  seen  and  admired  on  the  road  between  Mount 
Vernon  and  Alexandria,  or  of  the  neighboring  estates. 
Washington  himself  generally  rode  abroad  on  horseback, 
accompanied  by  Bishop  in  scarlet  livery.  Sometimes  Mrs. 
Washington  was  his  companion,  riding  a  pony,  and  often 
attired  in  a  scarlet  riding-habit.  He  was  a  skilful  horse 
man,  and  his  superb  figure  and  dignified  bearing  made  him, 
when  fully  equipped  for  the  road,t  an  attractive  and  impos 
ing  object. 

Magnolia,  Blue  Skin,  and  Holly.  Blue  Skin  was  a  full-blooded  Ara 
bian,  and  Washington  generally  rode  him  when  on  the  road.  Among 
the  names  of  his  hounds  were  Vulcan,  Ringwood,  Singer,  Truelove, 
Music,  Sweetlips,  Forrester,  and  Rockwood.  Their  kennel  was  vis 
ited  every  morning  and  evening  by  the  master ;  so  also  were  his  sta 
bles.  In  hunting,  Colonel  Washington  wore  a  short  blue  coat,  or  hunt 
ing  jacket,  scarlet  waistcoat,  buckskin  breeches,  top-boots,  velvet  cap, 
and  a  whip  with  a  long  thong.  He  took  the  field  at  daybreak  with  his 
huntsman,  Will  Lee,  who  was  his  trusted  body-servant,  "  Billy,"  during 
the  war  for  independence. 

*  The  Washington  livery  was  white,  trimmed  with  scarlet,  in  accord 
ance  with  the  arms  of  the  family — the  alternate  white  and  red  bars  of 
the  escutcheon. 

\  The  following  is  copied  from  an  invoice  of  goods  ordered  from 
London  for  his  equipment  for  the  road:  "A  man's  riding  saddle,  hog- 
skin  seat,  large  plated  stirrups  and  everything  complete;  double  reined 
bridle  and  Pelham  bit,  complete;  a  very  neat  and  fashionable  Newmar 
ket  saddle-cloth ;  A  large  and  best  Portmanteau,  saddle  and  bridle  and 
pillion;  cloak -bag  surcingle,  checked  saddle-cloth,  holsters,  &c. ;  a  riding 
frock  of  handsome  drab  colored  broadcloth,  with  plain  double-gilt  but 
tons;  a  riding  waistcoat  of  superfine  scarlet  cloth  and  gold  lace  with  but 
tons  like  those  of  the  coat;  a  blue  surtout  coat;  A  neat  switch-whip, 
silver  cup;  black  velvet  cap  for  servant." 


HOME    PIETY. 


117 


On  Sundays  Washington  rode  in  his  chaise  with  his  fam 
ily  at  first  to  the  old  and  afterwards  to  the  new  Pohich 
Church,  several  miles  distant,  where  the  Rev.  Charles  Green 
and  the  Rev.  Lee  Massey  officiated.  There  were  no  more 
punctual  attendants  upon  public  worship  than  the  family  at 


POHICH    CHURCH. 


Mount  Vernon.  The  daily  life  of  both  the  master  and  mis 
tress  was  ever  governed  by  deep-seated  religious  principles, 
seldom  manifested  by  word  but  made  conspicuous  by  deeds. 
Mrs.  Washington  was  unaffectedly  pious.  It  was  her  daily 
habit,  from  the  time  of  her  first  marriage  until  her  final  de 
parture  from  earth,  to  retire  to  her  chamber  immediately  after 
breakfast  to  hold  communion  with  her  Maker — to  read  the 
Scriptures,  meditate,  and  pray.  These  habitual  exercises  of 
the  spirit  strengthened  her  for  the  duties  of  the  day  before  her. 


Il8  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Mrs.  Washington  and  her  husband  sometimes  attended 
balls  and  parties  given  by  fashionable  persons  at  Alexan 
dria  and  Annapolis.  They  also  attended  the  theatrical  per 
formances  at  Williamsburg  and  Annapolis,  of  which  they 
were  very  fond.  This  intellectual  amusement  had  been  in 
troduced  into  America  (first  at  the  Virginia  capital)  before 
this  noble  couple  were  born. 

To  persons  of  habits  like  those  of  Washington  and  his 
wife  this  participation  in  amusements,  in  hunting  scenes,  in 
the  enjoyment  of  social  intercourse,  and  in  the  performance 
of  official  duties,  was  not  incompatible  with  due  attention 
to  the  house  and  farm  at  Mount  Vernon.  They  gave  zest 
to  domestic  and  agricultural  employment.  The  master  was 
methodical  in  all  his  ways,  and  such  a  careful  manager  of 
his  estate  that  he  made  it  profitable.  He  personally  super 
intended  all  out-of-door  operations.  He  left  his  bed  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The  time 
before  breakfast  (at  seven  o'clock  in  the  summer  and  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  winter)  was  spent  in  his  library  and  in 
visits  to  his  stables  and  kennel.  After  a  frugal  meal  of  In 
dian-cakes,  honey,  tea  or  coffee,  he  would  mount  his  horse 
and  ride  sometimes  ten  or  twelve  miles  between  breakfast 
and  dinner,  visiting  every  place  on  his  farms  where  work 
was  going  on,  and  frequently  directing  his  overseers,  in  de 
tail,  the  methods  to  be  pursued.  He  was  always  abstemi 
ous  at  table,  and  invariably  retired  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  summer  and  winter.  The  mistress  was  also  a  very 
early  riser,  leaving  her  pillow  at  the  dawn  of  day  at  all  sea 
sons,  and  becoming  at  once  actively  engaged  in  her  house 
hold  duties. 

There  was  nothing  which  seriously  disturbed  the  serene 


A  WORTHY  MOTHER  AND  DAUGHTER.         119 

atmosphere  of  domestic  and  social  life  at  Mount  Vernon 
before  the  ominous  clouds  which  overspread  the  political 
firmament  during  the  decade  preceding  the  old  war  for  in 
dependence,  began  to  appear. 

From  the  beginning  of  her  residence  at  Mount  Vernon 
Mrs.  Washington  was  greatly  beloved  because  of  her  abound 
ing  charities  towards  the  needy,  and  her  motherly  care  of  all 
the  servants  on  the  great  estate.  She  ever  tried  to  conceal 
her  deeds  of  charity  from  all  but  the  recipients,  not  allowing 
her  left  hand  to  know  what  her  right  hand  was  doing ;  but 
the  voice  of  gratitude  continually  revealed  the  secrets.  As 
her  daughter  grew  towards  womanhood,  the  mother  impress 
ed  upon  the  maiden's  mind  and  heart  the  conviction  that 
men  and  women  are  merely  stewards  of  their  Father's  boun 
ty,  and  that  "it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 
That  sweet  young  woman — the  "dark  lady,"  as  she  was 
called,  because  of  the  deep  brunette  of  her  complexion  — 
also  came  to  be  regarded  by  the  poor  and  the  afflicted  as 
an  angel  of  mercy.  She  might  often  be  seen  on  her  pony, 
attended  only  by  a  single  servant  carrying  a  basket,  making 
quite  long  journeys  on  her  holy  errands  to  the  homes  of  the 
suffering. 


CHAPTER  III. 

AFTER  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act  in  1765,  which  filled 
the  colonies  with  indignation  and  alarm,  another  class  of 
visitors  than  hitherto  frequented  Mount  Vernon.  It  was 
composed  of  patriotic  citizens  who  came  to  confer  with 
Colonel  Washington  on  the  aspect  of  public  affairs.  His 
friend  and  neighbor,  George  Mason,  a  leading  spirit  of  the 
time,  was  often  there  ;  also  his  early  playmate  in  West 
moreland,  Richard  Henry  Lee,  and  the  impetuous  Patrick 
Henry. 

When,  in  the  spring  of  1769,  Colonel  Washington  received 
copies  of  the  proceedings  and  resolutions  of  merchants  in 
Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  Boston,  by  which  they  agreed 
to  cease  importing  certain  articles  from  Great  Britain  until 
the  grievances  of  which  the  colonists  complained  should  be 
reduced,  he  sent  them  to  Mason  with  a  letter  of  strong  ap 
proval  of  the  scheme.  "  In  my  opinion  it  is  a  good  one," 
he  wrote,  "  and  must  be  attended  with  salutary  effects,  pro 
vided  it  can  be  carried  pretty  generally  into  execution." 
Mason  cordially  acquiesced,  and  immediately  drew  up  a  se 
ries  of  articles  in  the  form  of  an  "  Association  "  to  the  same 
effect,  to  be  laid  before  the  Virginia  Assembly. 

Mason  was  not  a  member  of  that  body  but  Washington 
was,  and  when  the  Burgesses  met  soon  afterwards  he  laid 
the  paper  before  them.  The  Burgesses  passed  such  bold 
resolutions  that  the  governor,  the  good  Lord  Botetourt 


THE    BEGINNING    OF    REVOLUTIONARY   TROUBLE.         121 

(Norbonne  Berkeley),  though  secretly  in  favor  of  their  ac 
tion,  was  constrained  by  duty  to  his  sovereign  to  reprimand 
the  members  for  their  disloyalty,  by  dissolving  the  Assem 
bly.  The  members  immediately  met  in  a  private  room,  and 
adopted  Mason's  non-importation  agreement  by  unanimous 
voice.  Every  member  signed  it.  It  was  printed  and  sent 
broadcast  among  the  people  for  their  signatures. 

Washington  scrupulously  adhered  to  the  agreement,  and 
his  wife  cheerfully  banished  tea  (one  of  the  proscribed  ar 
ticles)  from  her  table.  In  his  orders  for  supplies  from  Lon 
don,  her  husband  enjoined  his  correspondents  to  omit  every 
article  enumerated  in  the  agreement,  until  the  obnoxious 
laws  of  Parliament  should  be  repealed.  From  that  time  he 
was  more  and  more  away  from  his  beloved  home  on  public 
business,  and  much  of  social  intercourse  between  neighbor 
ing  families  was  suspended. 

Botetourt  died,  and  John  Murray  (Lord  Dunmore)  became 
governor  of  Virginia.  He  found  the  people  so  restless  and 
disaffected  that  he  did  not  call  a  session  of  his  Assembly 
until  the  spring  of  1773,  when  that  body,  as  bold  as  in  1769, 
put  in  motion,  by  resolutions,  the  powerful  engine  for  pro 
moting  unity  of  sentiment  and  action  among  the  colonies 
known  as  Committees  of  Correspondence.  Washington 
gave  his  cordial  approval  of  the  measure. 

It  was  while  Washington  was  in  attendance  upon  public 
duties  at  Williamsburg  that  the  first  occurrence  which  seri 
ously  disturbed  the  happiness  that  reigned  at  Mount  Ver- 
non  was  felt.  Now  a  dark  cloud  of  grief  overshadowed 
that  domestic  paradise  where  only  sunshine  had  hitherto 
prevailed. 

No  children  had  blessed  the  union  of  George  Washington 


122  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

and  Martha  Custis.  Upon  his  wife's  son  and  daughter 
Colonel  Washington  bestowed,  in  full  measure,  the  wealth 
of  his  affection  for  the  young,  with  which  he  was  abundant 
ly  endowed.  He  was  especially  tender  towards  her  only  sur 
viving  daughter,  the  gentle  Martha  Parke  Custis — the  "  dark 
lady"  of  Mount  Vernon,  whom  he  loved  as  his  own  child. 
Always  delicate  in  physical  constitution,  she  received  from 
Colonel  Washington  and  her  mother  the  most  tender  care 
until  she  approached  the  realm  of  full  womanhood,  when 
alarming  symptoms  of  declining  health  appeared. 

Early  in  1773  Martha's  cheeks  began  to  show  the  warm 
glow  of  the  hectic  flush  of  incipient  pulmonary  consump 
tion.  She  was  then  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  sweet  and 
gentle  in  temper,  graceful  in  form,  with  winning  ways,  and 
very  beautiful  in  every  feature  and  expression  of  her  face. 
The  incipient  malady  was  rapidly  developed  as  the  spring 
advanced.  The  mother's  heart  grew  fearful  and  sad,  and 
after  her  husband's  departure  on  public  business  to  Will- 
iamsburg,  her  frequent  letters  to  him  expressed  the  deep 
est  anxiety.  At  length,  just  as  he  had  completed  arrange 
ments  to  accompany  Lord  Dunmore  to  the  region  of  the 
Ohio  River,  an  alarming  letter  reached  him  which  impelled 
him  to  hasten  to  Mount  Vernon.  He  found  his  dear  ward 
in  the  last  moments  of  her  earthly  existence.  She  had 
barely  strength  to  lay  her  thin,  feverish  hand  in  his,  and, 
with  a  smile,  to  say  farewell. 

The  great  heart  of  Martha  Parke's  guardian  was  sorely 
smitten  with  grief,  and  kneeling  at  her  bedside  he  audibly 
and  earnestly  prayed  for  her  recovery  of  health ;  but  while 
he  prayed  her  freed  spirit  had  ascended  to  the  bosom  of 
God.  She  expired  on  the  19111  day  of  June,  1773,  when  in 


FAMILY    PORTRAITS.  123 

the  seventeenth  year  of  her  age.  Washington  remained 
some  time  at  Mount  Vernon  to  comfort  his  grief-burdened 
wife,  and  to  recover,  himself,  from  the  blow. 

About  a  year  before  the  death  of  Miss  Custis,  when  she 
was  just  blooming  into  ripening  womanhood,  Charles  Will- 
son  Peale,  a  young  artist  of  Annapolis,  was  invited  to  Mount 
Vernon  on  professional  business.  He  painted  for  Mrs. 
Washington  a  miniature  portrait  of  her  beautiful  daughter  ; 
also  a  miniature  portrait  of  herself  for  her  son,  John  Parke 
Custis,  who  was  then  between  seventeen  and  eighteen  years 
of  age.  The  picture  of  Martha  Parke  Custis,  Peale  after 
wards  copied  for  himself.  I  saw  that  copy  many  years 
ago,  in  possession  of  the  artist's  son,  Rembrandt  Peale. 
On  the  back  of  the  picture  were  the  words,  "A  Virginia 
Beauty." 

Peale  at  that  time  painted  a  portrait  of  Washington,  then 
forty  years  of  age,  in  the  military  costume  of  a  Virginia 
colonel  —  a  dark  blue  coat  faced  with  red,  and  dark  red 
waistcoat  and  breeches.  It  is  the  same  size  and  form  as  the 
portraits  of  Mrs.  Washington  and  her  first  husband  (three- 
quarters  length),  which  were  painted  by  Woolaston,  and 
were  then  suspended  on  the  walls  at  Mount  Vernon. 

Mrs.  Washington's  affections  were  now  centred  in  her 
son,  who  was  a  most  amiable  and  generous  youth,  often 
thoughtless,  quite  impulsive,  and  sometimes  wayward.  His 
mother  had  always  been  very  indulgent  towards  him,  often 
pleading  in  his  behalf  when  his  guardian  found  it  necessary 
to  enforce  the  wholesome  restraints  of  proper  discipline. 
He  had  been  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan 
Bouchier,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  at  Annapolis,  to  be  edu 
cated  ;  but  he  loved  field-sports  more  than  books,  and  was 


124  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

often  away  from  his  studies  indulging  in  fox-hunting,  fowl 
ing,  or  fishing  at  Mount  Vernon. 

Before  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  young  Custis  con 
ceived  a  strong  desire  to  travel  in  Europe.  This  desire  was 
fostered  by  his  tutor,  and  his  mother,  yielding  her  judgment 
to  her  feelings  of  tenderness,  reluctantly  consented.  Wash 
ington  acquiesced  but  did  not  approve  the  measure. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1771  preliminary  plans  were  ar 
ranged  for  the  youth  to  cross  the  Atlantic  with  his  tutor. 
The  lad's  strong  desire  to  go  abroad  soon  cooled,  however, 
and  in  July  Washington  wrote  to  Mr.  Bouchier  informing 
him  of  the  change  in  the  boy's  aspirations.  In  that  letter 
his  guardian  referred  to  the  fact  that  young  Custis  knew 
"  something  of  Latin,  but  nothing  of  Greek  "  nor  of  French 
— the  latter  so  necessary  for  a  traveller  on  the  Continent. 
"  He  has  little  or  no  knowledge  of  arithmetic,  and  is  totally 
ignorant  of  the  mathematics,"  his  guardian  also  wrote,  and 
alluded  to  the  great  disadvantage  under  which  such  an  un 
educated  youth  would  travel. 

With  evident  satisfaction  Washington  expressed  his  opin 
ion  that  the  "  whole  design  might  be  totally  defeated."  He 
continued:  "Before  I  thought  myself  at  liberty  to  encour 
age  this  plan,  I  judged  it  highly  reasonable  and  necessary 
that  his  mother  should  be  consulted.  I  laid  your  first  letter 
and  proposals  before  her,  and  desired  that  she  would  reflect 
well  before  she  resolved,  as  an  unsteady  behavior  might  be 
a  disadvantage  to  you.  Her  determination  was,  that,  if  it 
appeared  to  be  his  determination  to  undertake  this  tour, 
and  it  should  be  judged  for  his  benefit,  she  would  not  op 
pose  it,  whatever  pang  it  might  give  her  to  part  with  him. 
To  this  determination  she  still  adheres,  but  in  so  faint  a 


MARRIAGE    OF    MRS.  WASHINGTON'S    SON. 


manner  that  I  think  with  her  fears  and  his  indifference  it 
will  soon  be  declared  he  has  no  inclination  to  go." 

The  scheme  was  abandoned,  and  young  Custis  was  pay 
ing  more  attention  to  his  books,  when  a  passion  stronger 
than  a  desire  to  travel  diverted  him  from  his  studies.  He 
had  become  enamoured  of 
Eleanor,  the  beautiful 
daughter  of  Benedict  Cal- 
vert,  of  Mount  Airy,  Mary 
land,  a  descendant  of  Lord 
Baltimore  and  a  man  of 
wealth  and  distinction. 
The  young  people  had 
actually  formed  a  matri 
monial  engagement  with 
out  the  knowledge  of  their 
friends.  When  Washing 
ton  heard  of  it,  he  wrote 
to  Mr.  Calvert,  saying  he 
had  no  objection  to  the 
union,  if  agreeable  to  her 

father,  and  confessing  that  "  Miss  Nelly's  amiable  quali 
ties  "  were  "  acknowledged  on  all  hands,"  and  that  an  alli 
ance  with  Mr.  Calvert's  family  would  be  pleasing  to  his. 
He  then  interposed  the  objection  of  their  extreme  youth, 
and  the  inexperience  and  unripe  education  of  his  ward,  as, 
in  his  opinion,  insuperable  objections  to  the  consummation 
of  the  marriage  at  that  time.  "  As  his  guardian,"  wrote 
Washington,  u  I  consider  it  my  indispensable  duty  to  en 
deavor  to  carry  him  through  a  regular  course  of  education," 
and  he  proposed  the  postponement  of  the  marriage  foi 


JO1IN    PARKE   CUSTIS. 


126  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"two  or  three  years."  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1773,  not 
long  before  the  death  of  Martha  Parke  Custis. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  youth  should  pass  two  years  in  a 
higher  seminary  of  learning,  so  as  to  perfect  his  education. 
He  was  accordingly  sent  to  King's  (now  Columbia)  College, 
in  New  York  City,  at  the  opening  session  in  1773  ;  but  he 
did  not  remain  there  long.  Love  and  study  did  not  move 
in  harmony.  He  was  permitted  to  leave  the  college  at  the 
end  of  about  three  months,  and  on  the  third  day  of  Febru 
ary,  1774,  he  and  Eleanor  Calvert  were  married  at  Mount 
Airy,  the  seat  of  her  father.  The  bridegroom  was  then  a 
little  past  nineteen  years  of  age ;  the  bride  was  sixteen. 
Her  portrait,  painted  a  short  time  before  her  nuptials,  rep 
resents  a  very  young  maiden  in  a  riding  costume,  with 
a  boy's  hat  and  open  jacket,  her  figure  slight  and  grace 
ful. 

Washington  attended  the  wedding  of  his  ward,  but  Mrs. 
Washington,  still  very  sad  because  of  the  loss  of  her  sweet 
daughter,  and  unwilling  to  mar,  with  her  serious  face,  the 
gayety  that  should  prevail  at  Mount  Airy  on  the  occasion, 
remained  at  home,  but  sent  a  note  by  her  husband  to  hand 
to  the  bride  immediately  after  the  nuptial  ceremonies.  It 
was  preserved  by  the  family  of  her  grandson,  at  Arlington 
House,  so  late  as  1860,  when  I  made  the  following  copy 
from  the  original  : 

"  MY  DEAR  NELLY  : 

"  God  took  from  Me  a  Daughter  when  June 
Roses  were  blooming  —  He  has  now  given  me  another 
daughter,  about  her  Age  when  Winter  Winds  are  blowing, 
to  warm  my  Heart  again.  I  am  as  Happy  as  One  so  Af 
flicted  and  so  Blest  can  be.  Pray  receive  my  Benediction 


127 

and  a  Wish  that  You  may  long  live  the  Loving  Wife  of  my 
happy  Son,  and  a  Loving  Daughter  of 

"  Your  Affectionate  Mother, 

"  M.  WASHINGTON." 

The  young  couple  made  their  abode  at  Abingdon,  a  pleas 
ant  seat  on  a  portion  of  the  estate  of  young  Custis,  on  the 
Potomac,  not  far  from  Mount  Vernon.  The  world  before 
them  appeared  very  bright  in  aspect.  The  young  husband 
would  soon  come  into  the  possession  of  his  estate,  which 
consisted  of  about  fifteen  thousand  acres  of  land  adjoining 
or  near  Williamsburg,  several  lots  in  that  city,  between  two 
and  three  hundred  slaves,  and  about  twenty-five  or  thirty 
thousand  dollars  upon  bonds  in  the  hands  of  his  merchants. 
To  this  property  would  be  added  that  of  his  mother  at  her 
death.  This  estate,  with  the  handsome  dower  of  his  wife, 
made  John  Parke  Custis  rank  among  the  wealthy  planters 
of  Virginia. 

Four  children  were  the  fruits  of  this  union :  Elizabeth 
Parke,  born  in  August,  1776;  Martha  Parke,  in  December, 
1777;  Eleanor  Parke,  in  March,  1779;  and  George  Wash 
ington  Parke,  in  April,  1781.  The  first  three  were  born  at 
Abingdon ;  George  Washington  Parke  was  born  at  the  seat 
of  Mr.  Calvert,  at  Mount  Airy. 

The  marriage  of  her  son  so  happily,  soothed  the  smitten 
spirit  of  Mrs.  Washington,  and  she  indulged  in  dreams  of 
much  domestic  happiness.  Alas !  they  were  evanescent. 
Ominous  clouds  of  wrath  were  already  gathering  in  the  po 
litical  firmament,  foreboding  a  fierce  tempest  of  passion.  A 
crisis  in  public  affairs  in  America  was  rapidly  approaching. 
The  "  Boston  Tea  Party,"  in  December,  1773,  had  aroused 
the  anger  of  the  British  Parliament,  and  a  decree  went  forth 


128  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON, 

ordering  the  punishment  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  flourish 
ing  American  town  by  closing  its  port  to  commerce  on  the 
first  of  June,  1774.  This  cruel  measure  stirred  up  the  re 
sentment  and  the  patriotism  of  the  British-American  colo 
nies,  stretched  a  thousand  miles  along  the  Atlantic  sea 
board.  Arrangements  were  immediately  made,  through 
committees  of  correspondence,  for  a  meeting  of  representa 
tives  of  each  colony  at  Philadelphia  early  in  September, 
1774,  as  a  general  committee  to  consider  the  public  griev 
ances  and  a  remedy  therefor,  and  to  devise  measures  for 
future  concerted  action.  This  committee  was  called  a  Con 
tinental  Congress. 

Washington  was  an  earnest  promoter  of  this  important 
measure.  He  had  said  publicly,  "  I  will  raise  a  thousand 
men,  subsist  them  at  my  own  expense,  and  march  with  them 
at  their  head  for  the  relief  of  Boston."  To  an  officer  in  the 
British  service,  who  remonstrated  with  him,  he  wrote,  "  Per 
mit  me  with  the  freedom  of  a  friend  to  express  my  sorrow 
that  fortune  should  have  placed  you  in  a  service  that  must 
fix  curses  to  the  latest  posterity  upon  the  contrivers,  and,  if 
success  (which,  by-the-way,  is  impossible)  accompanies  it, 
execrations  upon  all  those  who  have  been  instrumental  in 
the  execution." 

Washington  was  a  member  of  the  First  Continental  Con 
gress.  In  this  movement,  so  perilous  to  his  domestic  peace, 
to  his  estate,  and  even  to  his  liberty  and  life,  his  wife  most 
cheerfully  and  ardently  acquiesced.  To  a  kinswoman  who 
deprecated  his  "  folly,"  Mrs.  Washington  wrote,  with  much 
warmth, 

"  Yes ;  I  foresee  consequences  ;  dark  days  and  darker 
nights;  domestic  happiness  suspended;  social  enjoyments 


THE    COLONIES    AROUSED    TO    RESISTANCE.  129 

abandoned  ;  property  of  every  kind  put  in  jeopardy  by  war, 
perhaps  ;  neighbors  and  friends  at  variance,  and  eternal 
separations  on  earth  possible.  But  what  are  all  these  evils 
when  compared  with  the  fate  of  which  the  Port  Bill  may  be 
only  a  threat  ?  My  mind  is  made  up ;  my  heart  is  in  the 
cause.  George  is  right;  he  is  always  right.  God  has 
promised  to  protect  the  righteous,  and  I  will  trust  him." 

Patrick  Henry  and  Edmund  Pendleton,  colleagues  of 
Washington  in  the  Virginia  delegation,  spent  a  day  and 
night  at  Mount  Vernon  on  their  way  to  attend  the  Con 
gress.  On  the  morning  of  August  3ist  they  departed  on 
horseback,  accompanied  by  Washington.  The  three  gen 
tlemen  reached  Philadelphia  on  September  4th,  the  day  be 
fore  the  meeting  of  the  Congress. 

Mr.  Pendleton  afterwards  wrote  to  a  friend,  "  I  was  much 
pleased  with  Mrs.  Washington  and  her  spirit.  She  seemed 
ready  to  make  any  sacrifice,  and  was  very  cheerful,  though 
I  know  she  felt  very  anxious.  She  talked  like  a  Spartan 
mother  to  her  son  on  going  to  battle.  *  I  hope  you  will  all 
stand  firm — I  know  George  will,'  she  said.  The  dear  little 
woman  was  busy  from  morning  until  night  with  domestic 
duties,  but  she  gave  us  much  time  in  conversation  and  af 
fording  us  entertainment.  When  we  set  off  in  the  morning, 
she  stood  in  the  door  and  cheered  us  with  the  good  words, 
'  God  be  with  you,  gentlemen  !'  " 

The  Continental  Congress,  sitting  in  Carpenter's  Hall,  in 
Philadelphia,  debated  long,  passed  bold  resolutions,  adopt 
ed  a  Declaration  of  Rights,  a  Non-importation  Association, 
an  Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain  and  to  the  In 
habitants  of  the  Several  American  Colonies,  a  Petition  to 
the  King,  and  an  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Prov- 

9 


130  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ince  of  Quebec.  These  State  papers  were  models  of  their 
kind,  and  excited  the  admiration  of  European  statesmen. 

When  Patrick  Henry  was  asked,  "  Who  do  you  think  the 
greatest  man  in  Congress  ?"  he  replied,  "  If  you  speak  of 
eloquence,  Mr.  Rutledge,  of  South  Carolina,  is  by  far  the 
greatest  orator;  but  if  you  speak  of  solid  information  and 
sound  judgment,  Colonel  Washington  is  unquestionably 
the  greatest  man  on  that  floor." 

When  this  Congress  separated,  late  in  October,  after 
making  provisions  for  another  the  following  year,  if  neces 
sary,  there  was  a  general  impression  that  war  was  inevitable. 
"  I  would  advise  persisting  in  our  struggle  for  liberty,"  ex 
claimed  Samuel  Adams,  "  though  it  were  revealed  from 
Heaven  that  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  men  were  to 
perish,  and  only  one  of  a  thousand  to  survive  and  retain 
his  liberty.  One  such  freeman  must  possess  more  virtue 
and  enjoy  more  happiness  than  a  thousand  slaves ;  and  let 
him  propagate  his  like,  and  transmit  to  them  what  he  hath 
so  nobly  preserved."  "We  must  fight!"  said  Joseph  Haw- 
ley.  "  We  must  fight !"  said  Patrick  Henry.  "  An  appeal 
to  arms  and  the  God  of  Hosts  is  all  that  is  left  us."  "  We 
must  fight !"  said  patriotic  lips,  voicing  patriotic  hearts, 
everywhere. 

Washington  was  at  home  most  of  the  time  from  the  clos 
ing  of  the  Continental  Congress  until  the  meeting  of  the 
Virginia  Convention,  late  in  March,  1775.  There  were  vis 
itors  at  Mount  Vernon  almost  continually,  not  for  pleasure 
but  for  counsel.  Independent  military  companies  were 
forming  and  drilling ;  and  as  Washington  was  the  foremost 
military  character  in  the  colony,  he  was  continually  con 
sulted  by  the  officers.  Independent  companies  chose  him 


THE    BIRTH-THROES    OF   A    NATION.  131 

for  their  field-officer,  as  it  was  expected,  in  case  of  war,  he 
would  be  placed  in  the  chief  command  of  the  Virginia 
forces.  He  accepted  the  burdens,  and  reviewed  these  com 
panies  at  their  different  places  of  rendezvous.  He  inspired 
them  all  with  enthusiasm.  To  his  brother,  John  Augus 
tine,  who  was  training  an  independent  company,  he  wrote : 
"  I  shall  very  cheerfully  accept  the  honor  of  commanding 
it,  if  occasion  require  it  to  be  drawn  out,  as  it  is  my  full 
intention  to  devote  my  life  and  fortune  in  the  cause  we  are 
engaged  in,  if  needful." 

Washington  was  an  efficient  member  of  the  Virginia  Con 
vention  which  assembled  on  the  2oth  of  March  and  adopted 
a  plan  for  embodying,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  militia. 
He  was  also  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Second  Continental 
Congress,  which  assembled  at  Philadelphia  on  the  loth  of 
May,  1775,  when  all  the  colonies,  and  especially  those  of 
New  England,  were  in  a  blaze  of  excitement.  British  troops 
had  been  sent  out  from  Boston  on  a  plundering  expedition 
in  April.  The  blood  of  patriotic  yeomanry  had  been  shed  by 
British  soldiers  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  and  thousands 
of  the  sons  of  toil  from  the  hills  and  valleys  of  New  Eng 
land,  armed  and  unarmed,  had  gathered  at  Cambridge,  de 
termined  to  imprison  the  marauders  of  the  royal  army  who 
had  been  driven  back  with  slaughter  and  alarm,  within  the 
narrow  bounds  of  the  Boston  peninsula.  On  the  very  day 
when  the  Congress  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  Colonel 
Ethan  Allen,  with  a  band  of  resolute  "  Green  Mountain 
Boys,"  had  captured  and  taken  possession  of  the  strong 
British  fortress  at  Ticonderoga,  on  Lake  Champlain,  in  "the 
name  of  the  great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress." 

At  the  middle  of  June  the  Congress  adopted  as  a  "  Con- 


132  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

tinental  Army,"  the  motley  host  of  patriots  who  had  gath 
ered  at  Cambridge,  and  chose  Colonel  Washington  to  be  its 
commander-in-chief.  At  the  hour  when  a  sanguinary  battle 
between  the  British  and  Americans  was  raging  on  Bunker 
(Breed's)  Hill  he  accepted  the  great  trust,  on  the  condition 
which  he  proposed,  that  he  should  not  receive  compensation 
for  his  services,  but  have  his  necessary  expenses  paid.  He 
left  Philadelphia  without  returning  to  Mount  Vernon,  and 
from  that  time  until  the  end  of  the  struggle,  late  in  1783, 
he  visited  his  beloved  home  on  the  Potomac  only  twice. 

On  the  3d  of  July  he  formally  assumed  the  command  of 
the  army  at  Cambridge.  He  had  written  to  his  wife  on  the 
1 8th  of  June,  saying, 

"  MY  DEAREST  : 

"  I  now  sit  down  to  write  to  you  on  a  sub 
ject  which  fills  me  with  inexpressible  concern,  and  this 
concern  is  greatly  aggravated  and  increased  when  I  reflect 
upon  the  uneasiness  I  know  it  will  give  you.  It  has  been 
determined  in  Congress  that  the  whole  army  raised  for  the 
defence  of  the  American  cause  shall  be  put  under  my  care, 
and  that  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  proceed  immediately  to 
Boston  to  take  upon  me  the  command  of  it. 

"  You  may  believe  me,  my  dear  Patsy,  when  I  assure 
you,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that,  so  far  from  seeking 
this  appointment,  I  have  used  every  endeavor  in  my  power 
to  avoid  it,  not  only  from  my  unwillingness  to  part  with  you 
and  the  family,  but  from  a  consciousness  of  its  being  a 
trust  too  great  for  my  capacity,  and  that  I  should  enjoy 
more  real  happiness  in  one  month  with  you  at  home  than  I 
have  the  most  distant  prospect  of  finding  abroad,  if  my  stay 
were  to  be  seven  times  seven  years.  But  as  it  has  been  a 
kind  of  destiny  that  has  thrown  me  upon  this  service,  I  shall 


WASHINGTON    IN    COMMAND    OF    THE    ARMY.  133 

hope  that  my  undertaking  is  designed  to  answer  some  good 
purpose.  You  might,  and  I  suppose  did  perceive,  from  the 
tenor  of  my  letters,  that  I  was  apprehensive  I  could  not 
avoid  this  appointment,  as  I  did  not  pretend  to  intimate 
when  I  should  return.  That  was  the  case.  It  was  utterly 
out  of  my  power  to  refuse  this  appointment  without  expos 
ing  my  character  to  such  censures  as  would  have  reflected 
dishonor  upon  myself  and  given  pain  to  my  friends.  This, 
I  am  sure,  would  not  and  ought  not  to  be  pleasing  to  you, 
and  must  have  lessened  me  considerably  in  my  own  esteem. 
I  shall  rely,  therefore,  confidently  on  that  Providence  which 
has  heretofore  preserved  a,nd  been  bountiful  to  me,  not 
doubting  but  that  I  shall  return  safe  to  you  in  the  fall.  I 
shall  feel  no  pain  from  the  toil  or  the  danger  of  the  cam 
paign  ;  my  unhappiness  will  flow  from  the  uneasiness  you 
will  feel  from  being  left  alone.  I  therefore  beg  that  you 
will  summon  your  whole  fortitude,  and  pass  your  time  as 
agreeably  as  possible.  Nothing  will  give  me  so  much  sin 
cere  satisfaction  as  to  hear  of  it  from  your  own  pen." 

In  this  letter  Washington  enclosed  his  will,  which  Colo 
nel  Pendleton  had  drawn  up  for  him  by  his  direction.  He 
wrote :  "  The  provision  made  for  you  in  case  of  my  death 
will,  I  hope,  be  agreeable." 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  tenor  of  Mrs.  Washington's  life  was  now  entirely 
changed.  The  genial  society  in  which  she  had  so  long 
moved  as  one  of  its  most  cherished  members  and  brightest 
ornaments  was  broken  into  fragments  by  conflicting  opin 
ions  concerning  public  affairs.  The  Fairfaxes  adhered  to 
the  crown,  and  many  others  of  her  friends  and  relatives  be 
came  alienated.  She  was  burdened  with  cares  and  anxie 
ties  she  had  never  felt  before,  but  her  heart  and  faith  were 
strengthened  sufficiently  for  the  occasion,  and  her  cheerful 
spirit  never  forsook  her.  Her  husband  had  left  the  man 
agement  of  his  farms  in  the  hands  of  his  competent  kins 
man,  Lund  Washington,  who,  with  his  wife,  resided  at  Mount 
Vernon  during  the  whole  period  of  the  long  war  that  ensued. 
And  Mrs.  Washington  was  comforted  by  that  assuring  ex 
pression  in  her  husband's  letter — "  not  doubting  I  shall  re 
turn  safe  to  you  in  the  fall." 

Alas !  the  hope  which  these  words  inspired  was  long  de 
ferred.  The  fall  came  and  winter  approached,  and  the 
period  of  Washington's  return  to  his  home  appeared  more 
remote  than  ever.  There  was  a  strong  British  force  in 
Boston,  under  Gen.  William  Howe,  while  a  stronger  patri 
otic  force,  which  partially  circumvallated  the  town,  kept 
them  close  prisoners  there. 

In  October  a  committee  of  Congress  visited  Washington. 
Arrangements  were  made  for  a  new  organization  of  the 


WASHINGTON    AT    CAMBRIDGE. 


135 


army,  and  a  siege  of  Boston  was  determined  upon.  It  was 
resolved  to  capture  the  British  army  or  drive  it  into  the  sea. 
For  this  purpose  an  irregular  line  of  fortifications  to  com 
mand  the  whole  Peninsula  was  speedily  constructed,  and 
strong  gunboats  were  placed  in  the  Charles  River. 


.  WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  CAMBRIDGE. 

Perceiving  no  prospect  of  returning  to  Mount  Vernon  for 
many  months,  Washington  invited  his  family  to  join  him  at 
Cambridge.  When  his  express  with  this  invitation  reached 
Mrs.  Washington,  she  was  at  Williamsburg.  She  immediate 
ly  returned  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  prepared  for  the  journey 
to  Boston. 

Washington  was  occupying  a  fine  mansion  at  Cambridge, 
built  nearly  twenty  years  before,  as  his  head-quarters.  This 


136  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

house  was  the  property  and  dwelling-place  of  the  late  Mr. 
Longfellow,  the  poet,  for  many  years  before  his  death.  It 
is  in  a  state  of  perfect  preservation  in  outward  and  interior 
aspects,  as  in  1775.  Then,  as  now,  it  was  a  little  back  from 
the  street,  with  a  gentle  slope  in  front.  At  each  front  cor 
ner  of  the  house  is  now  a  lofty  and  venerable  elm.  These 
were  saplings  when  Washington  dwelt  there. 

There  had  been  some  alarm  felt  at  Mount  Vernon  in  Oc 
tober,  a  little  while  before  Mrs.  Washington  received  her  in 
vitation  to  Cambridge.  Lord  Dunmore,  the  fugitive  royal 
governor  of  Virginia,  had  begun  marauding  expeditions  on 
the  shores  of  the  waters  of  Lower  Virginia,  and  had  spread 
alarm  along  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  Potomac  and  Rappa- 
hannock  rivers.  It  is  believed  he  intended  to  ascend  the 
Potomac,  devastate  the  estate  at  Mount  Vernon,  and  seiz 
ing  Mrs.  Washington,  hold  her  as  a  hostage.  Virginia  mili 
tia  soon  checked  the  career  of  the  marauder,  and  the  alarm 
subsided.  Lund  Washington  had  written  to  the  general : 

"  Many  people  have  made  a  stir  about  Mrs.  Washington's 
continuing  at  Mount  Vernon,  but  I  cannot  think  there  is 
any  danger.  The  thought,  I  believe,  originated  in  Alexan 
dria;  from  thence  it  got  to  Loudoun,  and  I  am  told  the  peo 
ple  of  Loudoun  talk  of  sending  a  guard  to  conduct  her  up  to 
Berkeley,  with  some  of  the  principal  men  to  persuade  her 
to  leave  this  place  and  accept  their  offer.  Mr.  John  Au 
gustine  Washington  [the  general's  brother]  wrote,  pressing 
her  to  leave  Mount  Vernon.  She  does  not  believe  herself 
in  danger.  Lord  Dunmore  will  hardly  himself  venture  up 
this  river,  nor  do  I  believe  he  will  send  on  that  errand. 
Surely  her  old  acquaintance,  the  attorney,  who,  with  his 
family,  is  on  board  his  ship,  would  prevent  his  doing  an  act 


HER  FORTITUDE  AND  COURAGE.  137 

of  that  kind.  You  may  depend  I  will  be  watchful,  and 
upon  the  least  alarm  persuade  her  to  remove." 

Immediately  after  this  letter  was  written  the  danger  ap 
peared  more  menacing.  Still  Mrs.  Washington  courageous 
ly  refused  to  leave  her  home,  until  she  received  a  message 
at  dawn  one  morning  from  her  good  neighbor  and  friend, 
George  Mason,  apprising  her  of  apparently  near  danger, 
and  advising  her  to  retire  to  the  country,  away  from  the 
river.  She  did  so,  but  went  only  a  few  miles,  and  returned 
in  less  than  forty-eight  hours.  Concerning  this  event  Ma 
son  wrote  to  Washington  : 

"  Dunmore  has  come  and  gone,  and  left  us  untouched  ex 
cept  by  some  alarm.  I  sent  my  family  many  miles  back  in 
the  country,  and  advised  Mrs.  Washington  to  do  likewise,  as 
a  prudential  movement.  At  first  she  said  '  No  ;  I  will  not 
desert  my  post ;'  but  she  finally  did  so  with  reluctance,  rode 
only  a  few  miles,  and,  plucky  little  woman  as  she  is,  stayed 
away  only  one  night." 

It  was  towards  the  middle  of  November  when  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  accompanied  by  her  son,  John  Parke  Custis,  his 
charming  young  wife,  and  a  maid  -  servant,  set  out  from 
Mount  Vernon  for  Cambridge,  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  four 
spirited  horses,  and  with  an  expert  postilion  and  a  driver. 
Washington  had  made  all  possible  provision  for  their  guid 
ance  and  entertainment  on  the  way,  for  they  were  ignorant 
of  the  roads  and  were  strangers  everywhere. 

Washington's  military  secretary,  Joseph  Reed,  was  then 
at  his  home  in  Philadelphia  attending  to  private  business, 
and  had  prepared  to  entertain  Mrs.  Washington  and  her 
companions  at  his  home  during  their  sojourn  for  rest  in  that 
city.  When,  on  the  2ist  of  November,  they  approached  the 


138  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Schuylkill,  Mr.  Reed  and  some  military  officers  met  them 
at  the  ferry,  and  they  were  escorted  into  the  city  by  two  bat 
talions,  one  of  infantry  and  the  other  of  light-horse.  The 
wearied  travellers  were  most  cordially  welcomed  by  the  del 
icate  young  wife  of  Mr.  Reed,  a  daughter  of  a  London  mer 
chant  (Denis  de  Berdt)  of  Huguenot  descent. 

The  advent  of  Mrs.  Washington  into  Philadelphia  was  the 
occasion  of  much  public  commotion  there  for  a  few  days. 
Society  in  that  city  was  divided  by  antagonistic  political 
sentiments.  The  Tories,  or  adherents  of  the  Crown,  were 
about  as  numerous  as  the  Whigs,  or  supporters  of  the  meas 
ures  of  the  Continental  Congress  then  in  session  there.  In 
consequence  of  this  state  of  feeling,  very  few  ladies  ventured 
to  call  on  Mrs.  Washington. 

The  Whigs,  under  the  shadow  of  the  wings  of  the  Con 
gress,  prepared  to  honor  the  wife  of  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  Continental  armies  by  some  public  token  of  respect. 
It  was  resolved  to  give  a  ball  at  the  "  New  Tavern,"  on  Fri 
day  evening,  November  24th,  to  which  she  should  be  invited. 
The  more  puritanic  members  of  Congress  from  New  Eng 
land  thought  such  a  performance  would  be  unseemly  at  that 
perilous  juncture  in  public  affairs,  while  Tories  plainly  inti 
mated  that  such  an  assembly  would  be  disturbed.  Christo 
pher  Marshall,  an  old  and  retired  druggist  of  Philadelphia, 
a  Quaker  by  birthright*  and  an 'ardent  Whig,  intimately  ac 
quainted  with  most  of  the  members  of  Congress,  and  who 
was  a  participant  in  the  affair,  gave  the  following  account  of 
it  in  his  diary  for  November  24th,  25th,  and  27th: 

*  Mr.  Marshall's  zealous  support  of  the  Whig  cause  and  the  measures 
of  Congress,  civil  and  military,  caused  his  expulsion  from  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers. 


AT    PHILADELPHIA.  139 

"November  2^th.  —  After  dinner,  as  I  heard  some  hints 
thrown  out  that  if  the  ball  assembled  this  night,  as  it  was 
proposed,  they  presumed  that  the  New  Tavern  would  cut 
but  a  poor  figure  to-morrow  morning,  their  fears  that  some 
commotion's  being  made  that  would  be  very  disagreeable  at 
this  melancholy  time  in  disturbing  the  peace  of  the  city,  I 
concluded,  if  possible,  to  prevent,  in  order  to  which  I  went 
to  Colonel  Hancock's*  lodgings,  and  finding  he  was  not 
come  from  Congress,  and  the  time  grew  short,  being  three 
o'clock,  I  walked  up  to  the  State  House,  in  expectation  of 
meeting  him.  That  failing,  I  requested  the  door-keeper  to 
call  Samuel  Adams,  which  he  accordingly  did,  and  he  came. 
I  then  informed  him  of  the  account  received  of  a  ball  that 
was  to  be  held  this  evening,  and  where,  and  that  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  and  Colonel  Hancock's  wife  were  to  be  present,  and 
as  such  meetings  appeared  to  be  contrary  to  the  Eighth  Re 
solve  of  Congress,  I  therefore  requested  he  would  give  my 
respects  to  Colonel  Hancock,  desire  him  to  wait  on  Lady 
Washington,!  and  request  her  not  to  attend  or  go  this  even 
ing.  This  he  promised.  Thence  I  went  and  met  the  Com 
mittee  at  Philosophical  Hall,  which  was  large  and  respecta 
ble,  being  called  together  for  this  only  purpose  to  consider 
the  propriety  of  this  meeting  or  ball's  being  held  this  even 
ing  in  this  city,  at  the  New  Tavern,  where,  after  due  and  ma 
ture  consideration,  it  was  there  concluded,  there  being  but 
one  dissenting  Voice  (Sharp  Delany),  that  there  should  be 


*  John  Hancock,  of  Boston,  who  was  then  the  President  of  Congress. 

f  This,  I  believe,  is  the  first  recorded  instance  of  Mrs.  Washington 
having  been  called  "  Lady  Washington."  This  was  her  popular  title  in 
the  army  and  in  society  during  the  war,  and  while  her  husband  was 
President  of  the  United  States. 


140  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

no  such  meeting  held,  not  only  this  evening,  but  in  future, 
while  these  troublesome  times  continued.  A  committee  was 
appointed,  immediately  to  go  to  inform  the  directors  of  this 
meeting  not  to  proceed  any  further  in  this  affair,  and  also 
to  wait  upon  Lady  Washington,  expressing  this  Committee's 
regard  and  affection  for  her,  requesting  her  to  accept  of  their 
grateful  acknowledgement  and  respect  due  to  her  on  account 
of  her  near  connexion  with  our  worthy  and  brave  general, 
now  exposed  in  the  field  of  battle  in  defence  of  our  rights 
and  liberties,  and  request  and  desire  her  not  to  grace  that 
company,  to  which,  we  are  informed,  she  has  an  invitation 
this  evening,  &c.,  &c.  Came  home  near  six.  After  I  drank 
coffee,  I  went  down  to  Samuel  Adams'  Lodgings  where  was 
Colonel  [Eliphalet]  Dyer.  Spent  some  time  pleasantly,  un 
til  Colonel  Harrison  came  to  rebuke  Samuel  Adams  for 
using  his  influence  for  the  stopping  of  this  entertainment, 
which  he  declared  was  legal,  just  and  laudable.  Many  ar 
guments  were  used  by  all  present  to  convince  him  of  the  im 
propriety  at  this  time,  but  all  to  no  effect ;  so,  as  he  came 
out  of  humor,  he  so  returned,  to  appearance.* 

"November  2$th—  At  half-past  eleven  went  to  the  Com 
mittee  room  at  the  Coffee  House  ;  came  away  near  two. 
At  this  time  Mayor  Bayard,  one  of  the  four  gentlemen  ap 
pointed  to  wait  on  Lady  Washington,  reported  that  they 
had,  agreeably  to  directions,  that  the  lady  received  them 
with  great  politeness,  thanked  the  committee  for  their  kind 

*  Colonel  Benjamin  Harrison  was  then  a  representative  of  Virginia 
in  Congress  and  a  very  ardent  Whig.  Pie  was  an  active  and  efficient 
statesman  of  that  period  and  later,  and  a  personal  friend  of  General  and 
Mrs.  Washington.  He  was  the  father  of  William  Henry  Harrison,  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States  in  1841. 


AVOIDS    NEW    YORK.    •  141 

care  and  regard  in  giving  such  timely  notice,  requesting 
her  best  compliments  to  be  returned  to  them  for  their  care 
and  regard,  and  to  assure  them  that  their  sentiments  on  this 
occasion  were  perfectly  agreeable  unto  her  own." 

Political  antagonisms  and  excitement  were  far  more  bit 
ter  in  New  York  than  in  Philadelphia  at  that  time.  The 
"  Sons  of  Liberty  "  there  were  active  and  aggressive,  and  the 
hostility  of  the  Loyalists  to  them  was  exceedingly  violent. 
It  was  while  Mrs.  Washington  was  in  Philadelphia  that  Isaac 
Sears  ("  King  Sears  "  as  he  was  called),  the  chief  leader  of 
the  active  Whigs  in  New  York,  entered  the  city  at  noonday 
from  the  east,  at  the  head  of  seventy-five  light-horsemen, 
and  destroyed  the  printing  establishment  of  Rivington, 
the  "King's  printer.1'  During  the  autumn  of  1775  it  was 
doubtful  which  party  would  gain  the  ascendency  in  that  city. 

Washington,  apprised  of  this  state  of  affairs  at  New  York, 
had  admonished  his  wife  to  avoid  that  city  by  all  means, 
and  had  requested  Mr.  Reed  to  give  the  travellers  directions 
where  to  cross  the  Hudson  River,  some  distance  from  the 
disturbed  town.*  This  was  done,  and  at  ten  o'clock  on 

*  On  the  morning  when  Mrs.  Washington  left  Philadelphia,  Mr. 
Reed  received  a  letter  from  her  husband,  in  which  he  said,  "  I  thank 
you  for  your  frequent  mention  of  Mrs.  Washington.  I  expect  she  will 
be  in  Philadelphia  about  the  time  this  letter  may  reach  you,  on  her  way 
hither.  As  she  and  her  conductor  (who,  I  expect,  will  be  Mr.  Custis, 
her  son)  are  perfect  strangers  to  the  road,  the  stages,  and  the  proper 
place  to  cross  Hudson's  River  (by  all  means  avoiding  New  York),  I 
shall  be  much  obliged  in  your  particular  instructions  and  advice  to  her. 
I  do  imagine,  as  the  roads  are  bad  and  the  weather  is  cold,  her  stages 
must  be  short,  especially  as  I  expect  her  horses  will  be  pretty  much  fa 
tigued,  as  they  will,  by  the  time  she  gets  to  Philadelphia,  have  performed 
a  journey  of  at  least  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  my  express  finding  her 


142  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Monday,  the  27th  of  November,  they  left  Philadelphia,  ac 
companied  as  far  as  Frankford,  five  miles  from  the  city,  by 
the  troop  of  horse  and  two  companies  of  light  infantry. 
The  travellers  lodged  at  Bristol  that  night,  crossed  the  Del 
aware  River,  passed  through  New  Jersey  and  Rockland 
County,  N.  Y.,  to  the  King's  Ferry  on  the  Hudson,  nearly 
forty  miles  above  New  York  City,  and  crossing  there  went 
on  by  easy  stages,  and  arrived  at  Cambridge  on  the  nth  of 
December.  On  Christmas-day  Washington  wrote  to  Reed 
by  express,  enclosing  several  letters  : 

"  I  am  so  much  indebted  for  civilities  shown  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  on  her  journey  hither,  that  I  hardly  know  how  to  go 
about  to  acknowledge  them.  Some  of  the  enclosed  (all  of 
which  I  beg  the  favor  of  you  to  put  into  the  post-office)  are 
directed  to  that  end.  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  for  present 
ing  my  thanks  to  the  commanding  officers  of  the  two  bat 
talions  of  Philadelphia,  for  the  honor  done  her  and  me,  as 
also  to  any  others  equally  entitled.  I  sincerely  offer  you 
the  compliments  of  the  season,  and  wish  you,  Mrs.  Reed, 
and  your  fireside  the  happy  return  of  a  great  many  of  them." 

When  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Washington  at  head-quarters 
became  known,  the  event  created  astonishment,  admiration, 
and  joyfulness,  not  only  among  the  officers  in  camp,  a  few 
of  whom  had  their  wives  with  them,  but  among  the  citizens 
of  Cambridge.  She  was  regarded  as  a  heroine,  a  model  of 
conjugal  affections  and  loyalty,  in  thus  encountering  the 
fatigues  and  perils  of  travel  for  hundreds  of  miles  at  an  in 
clement  season  of  the  year,  and  in  accepting  the  dangers 

among  her  friends  near  Williamsburg,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  be 
low  my  own  home.." 


ARMIES    AT   CAMBRIDGE.  143 

and  vicissitudes  of  camp  life  before  a  beleaguered  city  filled 
with  veteran  British  troops. 

Mrs.  Washington's  advent  was  unheralded,  for  it  was  not 
known  even  to  her  husband  on  what  day  she  would  arrive, 
and  no  hint  had  been  given  to  any  one  excepting  Robert 
H.  Harrison,  the  general's  secretary,  that  she  was  expected. 
A  letter  to  one  of  the  officers  from  a  friend  in  Philadelphia, 
giving  him  an  account  of  her  reception  at  and  departure 
from  that  city,  had  been  received  on  the  day  before  her  ar 
rival. 

Washington  had  sent  a  single  member  of  his  staff  and  an 
orderly  out  on  the  road  he  knew  she  would  be  travelling,  a 
few  miles  from  Cambridge,  to  guide  her  to  head-quarters. 
This  aide-de-camp  had  waited  at  a  country  inn  several  days. 
So  unostentatious  was  her  advent,  attendee!  only  by  this  aide 
and  the  orderly  riding  some  distance  ahead  of  her  equipage, 
that  no  one  suspected  the  modest  carriage  with  jaded 
horses  bore  the  wife  of  the  commander-in-chief,  until  she 
alighted  with  her  companions  at  head-quarters,  at  near 
sunset  on  a  cold,  gray,  December  day.  When  she  had  re 
covered  from  the  fatigue  of  travel,  she  received  ceremonial 
visits  from  the  wives  of  officers  in  camp  and  the  ladies  in 
the  neighborhood,  who  cordially  welcomed  her  among  them, 
and  were  charmed  with  her  matronly  beauty  (she  was  then 
forty-three  years  old),  grace,  and  suavity  of  demeanor,  and 
her  perfect  simplicity  and  frankness  of  manner. 

A  general  gloom  overspread  the  camp  at  the  time  of  Mrs. 
Washington's  arrival,  for  the  terms  of  the  enlistments  of 
many  of  the  soldiers  would  soon  expire,  and  there  appeared 
very  little  disposition  on  their  part  to  re-enlist.  December 
was  passing  away,  and  yet  not  more  than  five  thousand  new 


144  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

recruits  had  joined  the  army.  General  Howe  had  strength 
ened  his  defences  preparatory  to  establishing  his  winter 
quarters  in  Boston  while  waiting  for  reinforcements  from 
home  in  the  spring. 

Washington  had  been  authorized  by  Congress  to  attack 
the  British  in  Boston  whenever  he  should  deem  it  expedi 
ent,  "  notwithstanding  the  town  and  property  be  destroyed  ;" 
and  the  patriotic  president  of  Congress,  John  Hancock, 
whose  home  was  in  that  city,  had  written  to  him :  "  May 
God  crown  your  attempt  with  success,  though  individually  I 
may  be  the  greatest  sufferer." 

Men  and  means  had  been  wanting  to  promise  success  to 
such  an  attempt.  But  a  brighter  prospect  soon  appeared. 
It  was  noticed  as  a  coincidence  that  with  the  advent  of  Mrs. 
Washington  into  camp  a  change  had  taken  place  in  the 
sentiments  of  the  troops  and  people.  Many  of  the  former 
re-enlisted,  while  a  stirring  appeal  made  by  the  commander- 
in-chief  to  the  militia  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire, 
to  supply  the  places  of  the  troops  which  had  left  the  army 
in  its  hour  of  peril,  was  nobly  responded  to.  The  regi 
ments  were  speedily  filled,  and  before  Christmas  fully  ten 
thousand  minute-men,  chiefly  in  Massachusetts,  were  held 
in  ready  reserve  to  march  whenever  called  upon.  The 
camp  was  well  supplied  with  provisions,  and  order  was 
more  generally  observed. 

With  Mrs.  Washington  as  a  central  figure  among  the 
wives  of  officers  in  camp  and  ladies  of  leading  families  in 
the  vicinity,  together  with  the  general  hopefulness  of  the  as 
pect  of  public  affairs  at  this  juncture,  social  life  at  Cam 
bridge  was  made  very  pleasant  at  the  Christmas  holidays. 
Among  the  most  fascinating  of  the  women  in  camp  was 


MRS.  LUCY    KNOX.  145 

Mrs.  Lucy  Knox,  the  young  wife  of  Col.  Henry  Knox,  and 
daughter  of  Thomas  Flucker,  late  secretary  of  the  province 
of  Massachusetts.  She  was  beautiful  in  person,  brilliant 
in  intellect,  and  the  life  of  any  social  circle  of  which  she 
formed  a  part.  The  duties  of  her  husband,  who  was  after 
wards  the  commander  of  the  artillery  in  the  Continental 
Army,  kept  General  Knox  near  the  person  of  General  Wash 
ington  during  the  long  war  that  ensued.  Consequently,  at 
every  winter  encampment,  where  Mrs.  Washington  was  at 
head-quarters,  she  and  Mrs.  Knox  were  much  together,  and 
became  fast  friends.* 

*  Henry  Knox  was  a  young  bookseller  in  Boston.  Lucy  Flucker, 
daughter  of  the  secretary  of  the  province,  being  of  a  literary  turn  of 
mind,  visited  his  shop  to  procure  books  and  stationery.  They  became 
acquaintances,  then  friends,  and  then  lovers.  They  maintained  senti 
ments  in  common,  and  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  friends  she  married 
the  young  Whig  bookseller,  and  shared  his  fortunes  during  the  long  war 
which  soon  followed  and  for  long  years  afterwards.  She  was  with  him 
in  camp  and  on  marches,  a  faithful  wife  and  loyal  companion  of  his  joys 
and  sorrows.  She  was  a  woman  of  sound  judgment  and  brilliant  intel 
lect,  and  graced  every  exalted  position  which  she  was  called  to  fill. 
Their  later  life  was  spent  in  elegant  retirement  at  Thomaston  Manor. 
She  had  rare  power  of  conversation,  and  was  one  of  the  most  charming 
and  entertaining  women  of  her  time.  Exceedingly  exemplary  as  a  wife 
and  mother,  she  commands  admiration. 

10 


CHAPTER  V. 

DURING  the  winter  of  1775-76,  Washington  prosecuted  the 
siege  of  Boston  with  as  much  vigor  as  circumstances  would 
allow.  After  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Knox  from  Lake 
Champlain  with  forty -two  sled -loads  of  captured  heavy 
guns,  ammunition,  and  stores,*  he  resolved  to  attack  the 
British  either  by  assault  or  by  a  general  bombardment  and 
cannonade.  The  winter  was  so  mild  that  the  ice-bridge 
over  the  St.  Charles  would  not  bear  troops  before  February, 
and  a  lack  of  powder  was  a  serious  hinderance.  "  The  bay 
is  open,"  wrote  Colonel  Moylan  late  in  January.  "  Every 
thing  thaws  except  old  Put.  He  is  still  as  hard  as  ever, 
crying  out,  *  Powder  !  powder  !  ye  gods,  give. me  powder  !'  " 

The  British,  in  daily  expectation  of  receiving  reinforce 
ments  from  Ireland  and  Halifax,  were  quite  contented  with 
a  dream  of  security.  The  officers  established  a  theatre, 

*  On  the  ioth  of  May,  1775,  some  Vermont  and  Connecticut  militia, 
led  by  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  of  Vermont,  surprised  and  captured  the  British 
stronghold  of  Ticonderoga,  on  Lake  Champlain.  Two  days  afterwards 
some  Vermonters,  or  "  Green  Mountain  Boys,"  seized  the  stronger  fort  of 
Crown  Point,  a  few  miles  farther  down  the  lake.  The  spoils  obtained  at 
these  forts  consisted  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  cannons  and  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition  and  stores.  Late  in  the  year  Colonel  Knox  was 
sent,  with  sleds  drawn  by  oxen,  to  fetch  the  spoils  to  Cambridge,  and 
succeeded.  These  supplies  were  timely  for  the  successful  prosecution 
of  the  siege  of  Boston. 


SIEGE   OF    BOSTON.  147 

and  got  up  a  farce  called  "  Boston  Blockaded,"  in  which 
Washington  was  lampooned  unmercifully.  Balls  were  held, 
and  they  were  preparing  for  a  grand  masquerade  when 
Washington  suddenly  dispelled  their  pleasant  dreams  of 
conquest  and  confiscation,  and  transformed  the  farce  of 
"  Boston  Blockaded  "  into  a  sad  tragedy  of  Boston  besieged. 
He  had  secretly,  during  a  single  night,  fortified  Dorchester 
Heights,  which  commanded  the  town,  the  moon  shining 
brightly  while  the  men  toiled.  When  Howe  saw  this  omi 
nous  menace  in  the  morning,  he  exclaimed  in  astonishment, 
"  I  know  not  what  to  do.  The  rebels  have  done  more  in 
one  night  than  my  whole  army  would  have  done  in  a 
month." 

The  British  fleet  in  Boston  Harbor  was  in  equal  peril 
from  the  great  guns  on  Dorchester  Heights,  while  a  heavy 
patriot  force  was  preparing  at  Cambridge  to  cross  the 
Charles  River  in  boats  and  attack  the  troops  in  the  city. 

Howe  called  a  council  of  war,  and  it  was  decided  to  evac 
uate  the  city.  This  decision  filled  the  inhabitants  of  Boston 
with  consternation.  The  Tories  dreaded  the  retribution 
they  deserved  and  might  expect  from  those  whom  they  had 
cruelly  persecuted  and  driven  from  their  homes  ;  the  few 
Whigs  who  remained  in  the  city  believed  the  British  would 
burn  the  town  on  their  departure.  The  Tories  saw  the  arm 
of  military  power  on  which  they  had  confidently  leaned  sud 
denly  wither  into  helplessness.  They  demanded  protection 
for  person  and  property  ;  the  troops  were  not  able  to  pro 
tect  themselves.  Three  thousand  loyalists  begged  to  be 
carried  away,  with  their  effects,  from  the  wrath  that  men 
aced  them.  The  number  of  transports  was  inadequate  to 
perform  this  service.  The  Tories  would  be  lucky  if  they 


148  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

could  sail  away  with  their  families,  and  with  such  property 
as  they  might  carry  on  their  persons. 

Howe  proposed  to  evacuate  Boston  quietly,  if  his  forces 
should  not  be  molested  in  the  operation.  Washington  ac 
ceded  to  the  proposition.  The  city  now  became  a  scene  of 
wild  confusion.  The  loyalists  hurried  their  most  valuable 
possessions  on  shipboard.  What  they  could  not  take  with 
them  they  burned.  The  British  soldiery  were  permitted  to 
break  open  and  plunder  houses  and  stores,  and  what  they 
could  not  carry  away  they  destroyed.  Strange  to  say,  the 
house,  furniture,  and  family  pictures  of  John  Hancock  were 
uninjured. 

It  was  on  Sunday,  the  lyth  of  March,  that  the  motley  host 
of  soldiers  and  civilians  crowded  on  board  the  British  ves 
sels,  and  all  sailed  away  before  night.  Washington  had  lit 
erally  driven  the  enemy  into  the  sea.  On  the  2oth  the  main 
body  of  the  American  army,  with  Washington  at  its  head, 
marched  in  triumph  into  the  deserted  town.  Leaving  a  suf 
ficient  garrison  under  Putnam  for  the  defence  of  Boston,  he 
sent  the  remainder  of  the  army  to  New  York,  whither  he 
supposed  Howe  had  sailed.  He  was  mistaken.  Howe 
went  to  Halifax,  and  there  left  the  first  colony  of  refugee 
American  loyalists  who  settled  in  Nova  Scotia.  Washing 
ton  himself  departed  for  New  York  on  the  4th  of  April. 

Alarming  rumors  had  reached  Washington  during  the 
winter,  of  preparations  by  Lord  Dunmore,  the  fugitive  gov 
ernor  of  Virginia,  to  ascend  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  navi 
gable  tributaries,  and  lay  waste  the  country  along  their  bor 
ders.  The  largest  ships  could  ascend  the  Potomac  to  Al 
exandria,  nine  miles  above  Mount  Vernon ;  and  so  alarmed 
had  the  people  been  in  all  that  region,  after  Dunmore  had 


MOUNT   VERNON    MENACED.  149 

burned  Norfolk,  at  the  beginning  of  the  year,*  that  many 
of  the  inhabitants  retired  to  the  interior,  taking  with  them 
their  movable  property. 

Such  assurances  had  come  from  Mount  Vernon  that 
every  precaution  would  be  taken  to  secure  the  property 
there,f  that  Mrs.  Washington  and  her  family  remained  at 
Cambridge  a  month  after  the  evacuation,  waiting  for  the 
roads  to  become  passable.  She  had  spent  the  winter  as 
agreeably  as  possible  under  the  circumstances,  having  had 
pleasant  social  intercourse  with  the  families  of  the  faculty 
of  Harvard  College  and  others,  and  with  the  wives  of  the 

*  The  royal  governor,  Lord  Dunmore,  having  been  driven  from  his 
capital  by  the  patriots,  proceeded  to  acts  of  vengeance,  laying  waste  the 
property  of  the  inhabitants  along  the  shores  of  Lower  Virginia  by  fire 
and  plunder.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1776,  he  caused  the  bombard 
ment  of  Norfolk  by  some  ships  of  war,  and  the  laying  of  the  town  in 
ashes  by  a  conflagration  which  raged  three  days. 

f  Lund  Washington  wrote  from  Mount  Vernon  :  "  Alexandria  is  much 
alarmed,  and  indeed  the  whole  neighborhood.  The  women  and  chil 
dren  are  leaving  the  town  and  stowing  themselves  in  every  hut  they  can 
find,  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  cannon.  Every  wagon,  cart,  and  pack- 
horse  that  can  be  got  is  employed.  The  militia  are  all  up,  but  not  in 
arms,  for  indeed  they  have  none,  or  at  least  very  few.  I  could  wish,  if 
we  are  to  have  our  neighborhood  invaded,  that  they  would  send  a  tender 
or  two  among  us,  that  we  might  see  how  the  people  would  behave  on 
the  occasion.  They  say  they  are  determined  to  fight.  I  am  about 
packing  up  your  china  and  glass  in  barrels,  and  other  things  into  chests, 
trunks,  and  bundles,  and  I  shall  be  able  at  the  shortest  notice  to  remove 
them  out  of  the  way.  I  fear  the  destruction  will  be  great,  although  the 
best  care  has  been  taken.  Everybody  I  see  tells  me,  that  if  the  people 
could  have  notice  they  would  immediately  come  and  defend  your  prop 
erty  so  long  as  they  have  life,  from  Loudoun,  Prince  William,  P'auquier, 
and  this  county." 


150  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

officers  in  camp.  After  the  evacuation,  ladies  from  a  dis 
tance  called  upon  her.  Among  the  latter  was  Mrs.  Mercy 
Warren,  afterwards  the  historian  of  the  Revolution.  She 
was  the  brilliant  sister  of  James  Otis,  the  eminent  orator. 
In  a  letter  which  Mrs.  Warren  wrote  to  the  wife  of  John 
Adams,  from  Watertown,  on  the  iyth  of  April,  she  gave  the 
following  account  of  her  visit  to  Mrs.  Washington  : 

"  I  arrived  at  my  lodgings  before  dinner,  the  day  I  left 
you, — found  an  obliging  family — and  in  the  main  an  agree 
able  set  of  lodgers.  The  next  morning  I  took  a  ride  to 
Cambridge,  and  waited  on  Mrs.  Washington,  at  eleven 
o'clock,  where  I  was  received  with  that  politeness  and  re 
spect  shown  in  a  first  interview  among  the  well-bred,  and 
with  the  ease  and  cordiality  of  friendship  of  a  much  earlier 
date. 

"  If  you  wish  to  hear  more  of  this  lady's  character,  I  will 
tell  you  I  think  the  complacency  of  her  manners  speaks  at 
once  the  benevolence  of  her  heart,  and  her  affability,  can 
dor,  and  gentleness  qualify  her  to  soften  the  hours  of  pri 
vate  life,  or  to  sweeten  the  cares  of  the  Hero,  and  smooth 
the  rugged  cares  of  War.  I  did  not  dine  with  her,  though 
much  urged.  She  desired  me  to  name  an  early  hour  in  the 
morning,  when  she  would  send  her  chariot  and  accompany 
me  to  see  the  deserted  lines  of  the  enemy,  and  the  ruins  of 
Charlestown.  A  melancholy  sight! 

"  Mr.  Custis  is  the  only  son  of  the  lady  above  described 
— a  sensible,  modest,  agreeable  young  man.*  His  lady,  a 

*  Young  Custis  was  attached  to  the  military  family  of  Washington 
while  in  Cambridge,  and  was  sometimes  employed  in  carrying  messages, 
by  a  flag,  between  the  belligerent  commanders.  In  this  service  he  be 
came  acquainted  with  a  young  British  officer  who,  like  others,  had  come 


MRS.  MERCY    WARREN.  151 

daughter  of  Colonel  Calvert,  of  Maryland,  appears  to  be  of 
an  engaging  disposition,  but  of  so  extremely  delicate  a  con 
stitution  that  it  deprives  her,  as  well  as  her  friends,  of  part 
of  the  pleasure  which  I  am  sure  would  result  from  her  con 
versation  did  she  enjoy  a  more  perfect  share  of  health. 
She  is  pretty,  genteel,  easy  and  agreeable,  but  a  kind  of 
languor  about  her  prevents  her  being  sociable  as  some 
ladies.  Yet  it  is  evident  it  is  not  owing  to  a  want  of  that 
vivacity  which  renders  youth  agreeable,  but  to  a  want  of 
health  which  a  little  clouds  her  spirits."  * 

At  this  interview,  which  was  mutually  agreeable,  a  friend 
ship  was  begun  between  Mrs.  Washington  and  Mrs.  Warren 
which  continued  through  life.  Mrs.  Warren  always  regarded 
the  mistress  of  Mount  Vernon  as  one  of  her  most  cherished 
correspondents.  On  her  urgent  invitation,  Mrs.  Washington 
visited  her  and  dined  with  her  on  the  day  before  she  left 
Cambridge  for  New  York.  They  never  met  again  until 
late  in  1790,  when  Mrs.  Warren  visited  her  distinguished 
friend  at  the  presidential  mansion  in  New  York  City. 

Just  before  Washington  left  head-quarters,  "  Lady  Wash 
ington,"  as  she  was  universally  known  in  the  army,  received 


to  America  with  an  impression  that  the  "  rebellion  "  would  be  crushed 
out  in  the  space  of  a  few  weeks,  and  was  prepared  to  settle  in  the 
country  on  the  confiscated  lands  of  the  rebels.  This  young  officer  had 
brought  with  him  a  twig  from  the  weeping-willow  near  Pope's  villa  at 
Twickenham,  carefully  preserved  in  a  case  of  oiled  silk.  Relinquishing 
the  idea  of  settling  in  America  and  planting  this  willow  on  his  estate,  he 
gave  the  twig  to  Custis,  who,  on  his  return  to  Abingdon  in  the  spring, 
planted  it  near  his  house.  It  grew  and  flourished,  and  from  it  are  de 
scended  the  weeping-willows  in  the  United  States. 

*  Mrs.  Ellet's  "  Women  of  the  Revolution,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  387. 


152  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

with  her  usual  suavity  and  politeness,  a  young  woman  whose 
birth  was  in  pagan  Africa,  and  her  social  condition  was  that 
of  a  slave.  Her  name  was  Phillis.  She  was  the  "  proper 
ty  "  of  John  Wheatley,  a  Whig  of  Boston  who  had  been 
permitted  to  leave  the  town.  Phillis  had  been  brought  from 
Africa  when  she  was  between  seven  and  eight  years  of  age. 
She  had  acquired  knowledge  as  if  by  intuition,  and  a  vol 
ume  of  her  poems  was  published  when  she  was  nineteen 
years  old.  She  had  attracted  the  attention  of  Washington 
by  a  poetic  eulogium  of  him  which  she  had  written.  At 
the  request  of  Mrs.  Washington,  the  general  invited  Phillis 
to  head-quarters.  Her  conversation,  in  manner  and  sub 
stance,  greatly  pleased  the  general  and  his  wife,  and  when 
Phillis  departed  she  received  a  pleasant  memento  from  Mrs. 
Washington.  Phillis  corresponded  with  the  Countess  of 
Huntington,  Lord  Dartmouth,  and  other  eminent  persons 
in  England.* 

On  the  2oth  of  April  Mrs.  Washington  and  her  compan- 

*  After  the  death  of  her  master,  in  1776,  Phillis  married  a  man  who 
was  much  her  inferior.  She  died  in  Boston  in  extreme  poverty  in  1784, 
at  the  age  of  nearly  thirty-one  years.  The  following  lines,  taken  from 
her  poem  on  "  Imagination,"  will  give  a  fair  idea  of  her  genius  : 

"  Though  Winter  frowns,  to  fancy's  raptured  eyes 
The  fields  may  flourish  and  gay  scenes  arise ; 
The  frozen  deeps  may  break  their  iron  bands, 
And  bid  their  waters  murmur  o'er  their  sands; 
Fair  Flora  may  resume  her  fragrant  reign, 
And  with  her  flow'ry  riches  deck  the  plain; 
Sylvanus  may  diffuse  his  honors  round, 
And  all  the  forests  may  with  leaves  be  crown'd; 
Showers  may  descend,  and  dews  their  gems  disclose, 
And  nectar  sparkle  on  the  blooming  rose." 


IN    NEW    YORK.  153 

ions,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Custis,  left  head-quarters,  in  their  chariot, 
with  a  military  escort,  for  New  York,  travelling  by  easy 
stages  by  way  of  Hartford  and  New  Haven.  Washington 
then  occupied  as  head-quarters  a  spacious  brick  mansion, 
three  stories  in  height,  on  Pearl  Street,  opposite  the  lower 
end  of  Cedar  Street,  and  there  Mrs.  Washington  remained 
with  her  husband  until  his  departure  for  Philadelphia  late 
in  May,  in  obedience  to  a  summons  from  the  Continental 
Congress  to  confer  with  that  body. 


HEAD-QUARTERS    AT    NEW    YORK. 

At  the  time  of  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  the  city  was  fill 
ed  with  alarming  intelligence  of  the  fearful  ravages  of  the 
small-pox  among  the  Continental  soldiers  then  in  Canada, 
and,  as  convalescents  were  continually  arriving  from  the 
New  York  City  companies  in  the  Northern  army,  fears  were 
entertained  that  they  might  bring  the  contagious  and  much 
dreaded  disease  with  them.  There  was  a  general  desire 


154  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

among  the  citizens  to  be  inoculated  with  the  small-pox  (vac 
cination  was  then  unknown),  in  order  to  disarm  it  of  its  ter 
rors.  In  this  desire  Mrs.  Washington  participated.  Her 
husband  wrote  to  his  brother,  on  the  29th  of  April,  "  Mrs. 
Washington  is  still  here,  and  talks  of  taking  the  small 
pox,  but  I  doubt  her  resolution." 

The  general  was  mistaken.  Her  resolution  was  equal  to 
her  desires,  and  her  common-sense,  as  usual,  prevailed.  She 
was  inoculated  by  Dr.  John  Morgan,  the  director-general  of 
the  military  hospital,  and  proceeded  with  her  husband  to 
Philadelphia,  where  they  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  23d 
of  May.  On  the  3ist  Washington  wrote  to  his  brother : 

"  Mrs.  Washington  is  now  under  inoculation  in  this  city, 
and  will,  I  expect,  have  the  small-pox  favorably.  This  is 
the  1 3th  day  and  she  has  few  pustules.  She  would  have 
written  to  my  sister  [Mrs.  Lewis],  but  thought  it  prudent  not 
to  do  so,  notwithstanding  there  could  be  but  little  danger  of 
conveying  the  infection  in  this  manner." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Custis  left  New  York  early  in  May,  and 
went  to  Mount  Airy,  in  Maryland,  the  seat  of  Mrs.  Custis's 
family.  They  tarried  there  while  Mr.  Custis  was  attending 
to  the  business  of  receiving  his  estate  from  his  guardian, 
George  Mason,  of  Gunston  Hall,  and  Lund  Washington  act 
ed  for  the  latter  in  his  absence.  Then  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Custis 
took  up  their  abode  at  their  pleasant  home  at  Abingdon, 
where,  in  August  following,  their  first  child,  Elizabeth  Parke 
Custis,  was  born. 

During  the  long  war  that  ensued,  this  amiable  young  cou 
ple  spent  most  of  their  time  at  Mount  Vernon,  and  with  their 
growing  family  were  a  constant  solace  to  the  half-widowed 
Mrs.  Washington  when  she  was  not  in  camp  with  her  hus- 


IN    PHILADELPHIA.  155 

band.  This  companionship  for  his  wife  had  been  solicited 
by  Washington.  A  few  days  after  his  appointment  to  the 
command  of  the  army  he  had  written  to  Custis  : 

"  At  any  time,  I  hope  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  that 
I  am  always  pleased  with  your  and  Nelly's  abidance  at 
Mount  Vernon,  much  less  upon  this  occasion,  when  I  think 
it  absolutely  necessary  for  the  peace  and  satisfaction  of  your 
mother  ;  a  consideration  which  I  have  no  doubt  will  have 
due  weight  with  you  both,  and  requires  no  argument  to  en 
force."* 

When,  early  in  June,  Washington  returned  to  New  York, 
he  left  his  wife  in  Philadelphia,  delaying  her  journey  to 
Mount  Vernon  because  there  were  rumored  menaces  of 
danger  there.  That  whole  region  was  thus  again  disturbed 
and  alarmed  by  the  hostile  operations  of  Lord  Dunmore, 
with  some  war-vessels  and  a  band  of  motley  followers,  black 
and  white,  about  five  hundred  in  number.  With  these  the 
fugitive  governor  secured  Gwyn's  Island,  in  Chesapeake 
Bay,  in  June,  and  established  a  fortified  camp  there,  intend 
ing  to  make  it  a  place  of  rendezvous  during  his  plundering 
raids  on  the  borders  of  that  bay  and  its  navigable  tributa 
ries  in  Lower  Virginia.  He  made  the  armed  vessel  Dun- 
more  his  head-quarters. 

Gen.  Andrew  Lewis,  in  command  of  a  brigade  of  Virginia 

*  Washington  was  ever  mindful  of  others.  When  he  sent  for  Mrs. 
Washington  to  come  to  Cambridge,  his  agent,  Lund  Washington,  was 
enjoined  to  continue  the  good  work  of  charity  at  Mount  Vernon  in  the 
absence  of  the  mistress.  "  Let  the  hospitality  of  the  house,  with  respect 
to  the  poor,  be  kept  up,"  he  wrote.  "  Let  no  one  go  away  hungry.  If 
any  of  this  kind  of  people  should  be  in  want  of  corn,  supply  their  neces 
sities,  provided  it  does  not  encourage  them  in  idleness." 


156  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

militia,  hastened  to  the  shore  opposite  the  island  with  heavy 
guns,  to  dislodge  the  marauders.  Early  in  July  he  opened 
two  batteries  on  them.  One  of  his  balls  passed  through  the 
Dunmore,  another  ball  cut  her  boatswain  in  two,  and  a 
third  ball  shivered  one  of  her  timbers,  a  splinter  from  which 
wounded  the  ex-governor,  smashed  his  china,  and  greatly 
frightened  him.  He  resolved  to  leave  the  island,  and  early 
the  next  morning  the  surviving  marauders  on  the  land  fled 
to  the  vessels.  Several  of  the  latter  were  aground.  These 
Dunmore  caused  to  be  burned,  and  sailing  out  of  the  bay 
with  the  remainder  of  his  vessels,  he  entered  the  Potomac 
River,  determined  to  ravage  the  fine  plantations  on  its  bor 
ders,  especially  that  of  Mount  Vernon  ;  also  to  seize  Mrs. 
Washington.  He  desolated  several  farms  near  Aquia  Creek, 
and  penetrated  to  Occaquan  Falls,  a  short  distance  below 
Mount  Vernon,  where  he  destroyed  extensive  flouring-mills. 
The  Prince  William  militia  gathered  and  drove  the  ma 
rauders  to  their  vessels.  At  the  same  time  they  were  as 
sailed  by  a  furious  tempest  of  lightning,  wind,  rain,  and  hail. 
Believing  the  militia  were  gathering  below  to  intercept  him, 
Dunmore  fled  down  the  river  and  never  entered  it  again. 
He  sent  vessels  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  plunder,  and 
sold  it  there.  Among  his  booty  thus  disposed  of  were  about 
a  thousand  negro  slaves.  The  valuable  property  at  Mount 
Vernon  which  Lund  Washington  had  packed  was  left  un 
disturbed  until  Mrs.  Washington's  return  late  in  August. 
It  was  kept  in  readiness  for  any  future  emergency. 

During  this  excitement  at  home,  Mrs.  Washington  was  in 
formed  of  the  peril  which  had  threatened  her  husband  in 
New  York,  from  a  most  foul  conspiracy  against  his  life 
which  had  been  concocted  by  ex-Governor  Tryon,  then  on  a 


A   CONSPIRACY.  157 

vessel  of  war  in  the  harbor,  and  the  mayor  of  the  city.  On 
his  return  from  Philadelphia,  Washington  had  made  his 
head-quarters  at  Richmond  Hill,  a  cool,  suburban  retreat 
overlooking  the  Hudson  River  and  portions  of  New  Jersey 
beyond.  There  Washington  and  his  staff  were  quartered, 
and  a  portion  of  the  American  army  was  encamped  near. 

At  this  time  (June,  1776)  a  British  fleet  was  hourly  ex 
pected  to  arrive  at  New  York,  bearing  troops  under  General 
Howe.  A  plot  was  formed  for  causing  an  uprising  of  the 
Tories  in  New  York  and  the  valley  of  the  Lower  Hudson, 
at  that  moment,  to  cut  off  all  communication  with  the  main 
land,  to  murder  Washington  and  his  staff,  and  other  leading 
officers,  or  to  seize  them  and  send  them  to  England  to  be 
tried  on  a  charge  of  treason,  and  to  make  prisoners  of  a 
greater  portion  of  the  American  troops  on  Manhattan  Isl 
and.  A  large  number  of  persons  were  engaged  in  the 
plot,  and  tempting  rewards  were  offered  to  those  who  should 
join  the  "  King's  troops  "  on  their  arrival. 

From  his  safe  retreat  on  a  war-ship  in  the  harbor,  Tryon 
sent  large  sums  of  money  to  corrupt  members  of  Washing 
ton's  Lifeguard  and  others.*  Two  of  them  were  seduced 
from  their  fidelity.  To  one  of  them,  an  Irishman  named 
Hickey,  was  intrusted  the  task  of  murdering  Washington. 
He  tried  to  make  the  general's  house -keeper,  a  faithful 
maiden,  his  accomplice  in  the  deed.  She  pretended  to  fa 
vor  his  plan.  It  was  arranged  for  her  to  put  poison,  which 

*  Washington's  Lifeguard  embraced  in  numbers  a  major's  com 
mand.  The  body  was  composed  of  picked  men,  selected  because  of 
their  physical  and  moral  excellence.  They  were  always  encamped  near 
head-quarters,  and  were  regarded  as  the  special  protectors  of  the  person 
and  papers  of  the  commander-in-chief. 


158  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

he  should  prepare,  into  a  dish  of  green  pease  designed  for 
Washington's  table.  Hickey  saw  her  put  the  poison  in  the 
dish,  and  at  an  open  door  watched  the  maiden  as  she  set 
the  dish  before  his  commander.  With  alarm  he  saw  the 
general  refuse  to  partake  of  what  he  always  loved  so  well. 
The  maiden  had  revealed  to  him  the  presence  of  death  in 
the  dish.  Hickey  was  instantly  seized,  tried,  condemned, 
and  hanged  in  the  presence  of  twenty  thousand  people.  It 
was  the  first  military  execution  in  the  Continental  Army. 
The  mayor  and  more  than  twenty  other  persons  were  ar 
rested  by  order  of  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress,  but 
all  escaped  punishment.  The  plot  was  traced  directly  to 
Tryon. 

Ten  clays  after  the  execution  of  Hickey,  General  Howe 
arrived,  and  landed  nine  thousand  troops  on  Staten  Island, 
at  the  entrance  to  New  York  Harbor,  and  soon  afterwards 
the  great  armed  struggle  of  the  British-American  colonists 
for  political  independence  was  begun  with  vigor  and  enthu 
siasm.  From  the  moment  when  Mrs.  Washington  parted 
with  her  husband  at  Philadelphia,  at  near  the  middle  of 
June,  1776,  she  did  not  see  his  face  again  until  the  begin 
ning  of  the  winter  of  1777-78— a  period  of  over  seventeen 
months.* 

*  On  the  20th  of  August,  1776,  Mrs.  Washington,  then  at  Philadel 
phia,  wrote  to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Bassett,  at  Eltham,  Va. : 

"  I  am  still  in  this  town  and  no  prospect,  at  present,  of  leaving  it. 
The  General  is  at  New  York  ;  he  is  well  and  wrote  me  yesterday,  and 
informed  me  that  Lord  Dunmore,  with  part  of  his  fleet,  was  come  to 
General  Howe,  at  Staten  Island;  that  another  division  of  Hessians  is 
expected  before  they  think  the  regulars  will  begin  their  attack  on  us. 
Some  here,  begin  to  think,  there  will  be  no  battle  after  all.  Last  week 
our  boats  made  another  attempt  on  the  ships  up  the  North  River,  and 


EVENTS    IN   OUR    HISTORY,  159 

This  was  a  period  of  momentous  events  in  the  history  of 
our  republic,  in  most  of  which  Washington  was  a  conspicu 
ous  actor.  The  most  prominent  of  these  events  were  the 
declaration  of  the  independence  of  the  colonies  by  the  Con 
tinental  Congress,  in  July ;  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  in  Au 
gust  ;  the  seizure  of  New  York  by  the  British  and  the  battle 
on  Harlem  Plains,  in  September;  the  battle  at  White  Plains, 
in  October ;  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington  by  the  British, 
in  November ;  the  flight  of  the  American  army  across  New 
Jersey  to  the  Delaware,  and  the  victory  of  the  Americans  at 
Trenton,  in  December,  1776.  Also  the  battle  at  Princeton, 
in  January  ;  the  distressing  winter  encampment  of  the  Amer 
ican  army  at  Morristown,  in  New  Jersey  •*  marauding  expe- 


had  grappled  a  fire-ship  to  the  Phoenix  ten  minutes,  but  she  got  clear  of 
her  antagonist  and  is  come  down  the  river.  On  Saturday  last  our  peo 
ple  burnt  one  of  the  tenders.  I  thank  God  we  shan't  want  men.  The 
army  at  New  York  is  very  large,  and  numbers  of  men  are  still  going. 
There  is  at  this  time  in  this  city  4000,  on  their  march  to  camp,  and  the 
Virginians  are  daily  expected. 

"  I  do,  my  dear  Sister,  most  religiously  wish  there  was  an  end  to  the 
War  that  we  might  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  again.  My  duty  to 
very  dear  mama,  and  tell  her  I  am  very  well.  I  don't  hear  from  you 
so  often  as  I  used  to  do  at  Cambridge.  I  had  the  pleasure  to  hear  by 
Colonel  Aylett,  that  you  and  all  friends  were  well,  and  should  have  been 
glad  to  have  had  a  line  from  you,  by  him.  I  hope  Mr.  Bassett  has  got 
the  better  of  his  cough,  long  ago.  Please  to  present  love  to  him,  my 
brothers  and  sisters,  my  dear  Fanny  and  the  boy,  and  accept  the  same 
yourself. 

"  I  am  my  dear  Nancy, 

"  Your  ever  affectionate  Sister 

"  MARTHA  WASHINGTON." 

*  At  Morristown,  Washington  made  his  head-quarters  at  Freeman's 
tavern,  on  the  north  side  of  the  "  Green."  The  accommodations  were 
so  limited,  and  the  movements  of  his  troops  were  so  uncertain,  that  he 
thought  it  not  prudent  for  Mrs.  Washington  to  come  to  the  camp.  The 


l6o  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ditions  by  British  parties  on  the  borders  of  the  Hudson 
River  and  Long  Island  Sound,  in  March  and  April ;  the  in 
vasion  and  capture  of  Burgoyne  in  the  summer  and  autumn  ; 
the  battle  on  the  Brandywine  Creek,  in  September ;  and  the 
battles  of  Germantown  and  Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer,  near 
Philadelphia,  in  October,  1777.  At  the  beginning  of  De 
cember  Washington  attempted  to  fix  his  winter-quarters  at 
Whitemarsh,  in  a  sheltered  valley  about  fourteen  miles  from 
Philadelphia.  The  latter  place  was  then  in  possession  of 
the  British  under  General  Howe,  and  so  remained  several 
months. 

During  all  the  long  period  of  separation  from  her  husband, 
and  her  anxiety  concerning  him  who  was  so  continually  ex 
posed  to  perils,  Mrs.  Washington  remained  quietly  at  Mount 
Vernon,  dispensing  its  hospitalities,  and  blessed  with  the 
companionship  of  her  son  and  his  wife.  The  tempest  of 
war  in  which  her  husband  was  involved  was  raging  at  a  dis 
tance  from  her.  She  could  hear  the  low  muttering  of  the 
remote  thunder,  but  was  secure  from  the  fiery  bolts  and 
fierce  wind.  Information  of  public  events  continually 
reached  her  by  expresses  sent  by  her  husband.  At  length, 
when  he  thought  he  was  well  provided  with  good  winter- 
quarters  in  a  spacious  house  at  Whitemarsh,  the  general 
sent  for  his  wife  to  come  to  him. 

proximity  of  the  American  and  British  forces  was  fruitful  of  frequent 
alarms,  and  at  times  it  was  thought  the  camp  would  have  to  be  aban 
doned,  but  Washington  remained  there  until  May. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

IN  a  beautiful  little  valley  about  fourteen  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  near  the  village  of  Whitemarsh,  stood  a  spa 
cious  stone  mansion,  sixty  feet  in  length  and  two  stories  in 
height,  when  I  visited  the  spot  more  than  thirty  years  ago. 
It  was  then  tottering  with  age  and  neglect.  Its  roof  had 
begun  to  fall  in,  and  it  is  now  probably  a  total  ruin.  It 
was  a  sort  of  baronial  hall  in  character  when  Elmar,  its 
wealthy  owner,  dispensed  generous  hospitality  to  all  who 
came  into  his  dwelling  at  the  period  of  the  Revolution. 
Through  its  centre  was  a  broad  passage  about  fifteen  feet 
wide,  finely  wainscoted,  and  in  all  the  lower  rooms  were  in 
dications  of  former  elegance.  This  mansion  Washington 
chose  for  his  winter  head-quarters  in  1777-78.  The  Amer 
ican  army  was  encamped  upon  the  hills  north  of  it,  in  a 
distressing  condition  for  want  of  shoes  and  sufficient  winter 
clothing.  The  right  wing  of  the  army  rested  upon  Wissa- 
hickon  Creek,  and  its  left  upon  Sandy  Run. 

Washington  took  possession  of  this  mansion  at  the  be 
ginning  of  November.  The  close  proximity  of  the  belliger 
ent  armies  caused  almost  continual  hostile  movements  on  a 
small  scale,  until  towards  the  middle  of  December,  when  the 
commander-in-chief  thought  it  prudent  to  remove  his  troops 
and  his  head-quarters  to  a  greater  distance  from  Philadel 
phia  and  in  a  more  secure  position.  Meanwhile  he  had 

ii 


1 62  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

sent  an  aide  with  an  escort  of  horsemen  to  conduct  Mrs. 
Washington  from  Mount  Vernon  to  head-quarters.  She  ar 
rived  at  the  Elmar  mansion  on  the  very  day  when,  at  night, 
the  British  marched  out  from  Philadelphia  to  surprise  the 
American  camp.  They  were  surprised  themselves,  for  they 
found  the  Americans  under  arms,  and  prepared  to  receive 
them. 

This  expedition  had  been  planned  by  officers  in  an  upper 
room  at  the  house  of  Lydia  Darrah,  a  patriotic  Philadelphia 
Quakeress,  at  which  they  were  quartered.  At  midnight  she 
overheard  one  of  them  read  General  Howe's  order  for  an 
attack  the  next  night.  She  did  not  sleep.  Early  in  the 
morning  she  took  a  bag,  and  on  pretence  of  going  to  a  mill 
in  the  country  for  flour,  she  procured  a  pass,  and  hastened 
on  foot  through  the  snow  to  the  nearest  American  outpost, 
and  there  gave  warning  of  the  impending  clanger.  Fore 
warned,  the  Americans  were  prepared  for  the  British,  who, 
surprised  and  alarmed,  hastened  back  to  their  quarters 
at  Philadelphia.  Little  did  they  suspect  that  a  woman 
had  betrayed  them.  The  officers  who  devised  the  expe 
dition  would  not  believe  that  their  hostess,  the  sweet-faced 
and  gentle -voiced  Lydia  Darrah,  had  frustrated  their  de 
signs. 

Mrs.  Washington  was  received  at  head-quarters  at  noon 
with  the  heartiest  demonstrations  of  welcome  from  the  offi 
cers  there  and  from  the  troops  stationed  near.  It  was  her 
first  meeting  with  her  husband  in  almost  a  year  and  a  half. 
She  came  in  a  rude  sleigh  procured  of  an  innkeeper  at  a 
ford  of  the  Brandywine  Creek,  where  she  had  been  com 
pelled  to  abandon  her  carriage  on  account  of  snow-drifts, 
and  leave  it.  The  innkeeper  sent  his  son  with  harnessed 


GOING   TO    VALLEY    FORGE.  1 6$ 

horses  to  bring  the  sleigh  back.  Writing  to  a  friend,  Mrs. 
Washington  said : 

"  I  had  nothing  but  kindness  everywhere  on  my  journey. 
The  travelling  was  pretty  rough.  I  found  snow  in  crossing 
Delaware,  and  at  an  inn  on  Brandywine  Creek,  at  a  ford, 
where  I  lodged,  the  snow  was  so  deep  in  the  roads  in  some 
places,  that  I  had  to  leave  the  chariot  with  the  innkeeper 
and  hire  a  farm  sleigh  to  bring  me  here.  The  General  is 
well,  but  much  worn  with  fatigue  and  anxiety.  I  never 
knew  him  to  be  so  anxious  as  now,  for  the  poor  soldiers  are 
without  sufficient  clothing  and  food,  and  many  of  them  are 
barefooted.  Oh,  how  my  heart  pains  for  them  !" 

Only  one  other  officer's  wife  was  at  head-quarters  when 
Mrs.  Washington  arrived.  She  was  Lucy  Knox,  the  spouse 
of  General  Knox.  Mrs.  Washington  had  learned  at  Cam 
bridge  to  admire  her  for  her  many  accomplishments,  and  to 
love  her  for  her  gentleness  of  spirit.  She  was  at  the  Elmar 
mansion,  and. warm  was  the  mutual  greeting.  But  these 
ladies  were  soon  compelled  to  leave  their  comfortable 
rooms,  for  before  the  middle  of  December  the  encampment 
was  broken  up,  and  the  suffering  army  began  its  terrible 
march  to  Valley  Forge,  near  the  Schuylkill  River,  about 
twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia.  Its  paths  might  have  been 
traced  in  the  snow  by  blood  from  the  lacerated  feet  of  bare 
footed  soldiers. 

On  that  cold,  wintry  journey  of  a  few  miles  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  rode  behind  her  husband  on  a  pillion.  He  was  on  his 
powerful  bay  charger,  and,  accompanied  by  a  single  aide- 
de-camp,  followed  the  last  remnant  of  the  army  that  left  the 
encampment  at  Whitemarsh. 

On  his  arrival  at  Valley  Forge,  Washington  placed  his 


i66 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


wife  in  the  small  but  comfortable  house  of  Isaac  Potts,  a 
Quaker  preacher,  situated  near  the  mouth  of  the  Valley 
Forge  Creek,  where  it  enters  the  Schuylkill  River.  With 


MRS.  WASHINGTON'S  JOURNEY  TO  VALLEY  FORGE. 

that  good  family  she  spent  the  winter  and  spring,  and  it  be 
came  the  head-quarters  of  Washington  after  his  soldiers 
were  as  comfortably  hutted  as  circumstances  would  allow. 


VALLEY    FORGE.  167 

Two  days  before  the  encampment  at  Whitemarsh  was  brok 
en  up,  he  had  ordered  huts  to  be  built,  and  he  had  said  to 
his  soldiers,  "  I  will  share  in  your  hardships  and  partake  of 
every  inconvenience."  In  fulfilment  of  this  promise  he  oc 
cupied  his  cheerless  marquee  for  several  days  and  nights, 
until  his  army  was  lodged  in  comparative  comfort. 

Comfort ! — a  condition  scarcely  known  at  Valley  Forge 
during  that  dreary  winter.  The  army  numbered  at  the  be 
ginning  of  the  encampment  eleven  thousand  men,  of  whom 
twenty-nine  hundred  were  unfit  for  duty.  For  about  four 
months  they  had  marched  and  countermarched,  and  fought 
to  baffle  the  designs  of  a  powerful  enemy,  who  then  num 
bered  nineteen  thousand,  and  were  in  comfortable  quarters 
in  a  city  only  twenty  miles  distant.  To  the  dreary  hollow 
scooped  from  the  hills  the  soldiers  had  come  with  tattered 
garments  and  naked  and  bleeding  feet  to  war  with  cold,  dis 
ease,  and  famine,  foes  more  implacable  than  armed  Britons. 
Toryism  was  rife  in  the  vicinity,  and  provisions  could  not  be 
procured  without  resort  to  force,  which  Washington  reluc 
tantly  used  from  time  to  time.  But  few  horses  were  in 
camp,  because  forage  was  scarce  ;  and  such  was  the  defi 
ciency  in  this  respect  that  men  in  many  instances  cheerfully 
yoked  themselves  to  rude  vehicles  of  their  own  construction 
for  carrying  wood  and  provisions  when  procured,  while  oth 
ers  performed  the  duty  of  pack-horses  and  carried  heavy 
burdens  of  fuel  on  their  backs.  On  the  i6th  of  February 
Washington  wrote  to  Gov.  George  Clinton : 

"For  some  days  past  there  has  been  little  less  than  a 
famine  in  the  camp.  A  part  of  the  army  has  been  a  week 
without  any  kind  of  flesh,  and  the  rest  three  or  four  days. 
Naked  and  starving  as  they  are,  we  cannot  enough  admire 


1 68  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

the  incomparable  patience  and  fidelity  of  the  soldiery,  that 
they  have  not  been,  ere  this,  excited  by  their  sufferings  to  a 
general  mutiny  and  desertion." 

Dr.  Thacher,  a  surgeon  in  the  army,  wrote,  "  It  was  with 
great  difficulty  that  men  enough  could  be  found  in  a  condi 
tion  fit  to  discharge  the  military  camp  duties  from  day  to 
day,  and  for  this  purpose  those  who  were  naked  borrowed 
of  those  who  had  clothes.  .  .  .  When  a  miserable  wretch  was 
seen  flitting  from  one  hut  to  another,  his  nakedness  was 
only  covered  with  a  dirty  blanket."  Unprovided  with  ma 
terials  to  raise  their  beds  from  the  ground,  the  dampness  oc 
casioned  sickness  and  death. 

The  encampment  at  Valley  Forge  presents  one  of  the 
most  trying  scenes  in  the  life  of  Washington,  but,  in  perfect 
reliance  upon  Divine  aid  because  he  believed  the  cause  he 
had  espoused  was  just  and  righteous,  a  cloud  of  doubt  sel 
dom  darkened  the  atmosphere  of  his  hopes. 

In  all  the  trials  of  that  winter  at  Valley  Forge,  Washing 
ton  had  the  most  earnest  sympathies,  cheerful  spirit,  and 
willing  hands  of  his  loving  wife  to  sustain  him  and  share  in 
his  cares.  An  old  lady  (Mrs.  Westlake)  eighty-four  years 
of  age,  who  lived  near  Mr.  Potts's  in  1778,  with  whom  I  con 
versed  at  Norristown  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  said  to 
me, 

"  I  never  in  my  life  knew  a  woman  so  busy  from  early 
morning  until  late  at  night  as  was  Lady  Washington,  pro 
viding  comforts  for  the  sick  soldiers.  Every  day,  excepting 
Sundays,  the  wives  of  officers  in  camp,  and  sometimes  oth 
er  women,  were  invited  to  Mr.  Potts's  to  assist  her  in  knit 
ting  socks,  patching  garments,  and  making  shirts  for  the 
poor  soldiers  when  materials  could  be  procured.  Every 


^inw 


MRS.  WASHINGTON  AT  VALLEY  FORGE.        171 

fair  day  she  might  be  seen,  with  basket  in  hand,  and  with  a 
single  attendant,  going  among  the  huts  seeking  the  keenest 
and  most  needy  sufferers,  and  giving  all  the  comfort  to  them 
in  her  power.  I  sometimes  went  with  her,  for  I  was  a  stout 
girl,  sixteen  years  old.  On  one  occasion  she  went  to  the 
hut  of  a  dying  sergeant,  whose  young  wife  was  with  him. 
His  case  seemed  to  particularly  touch  the  heart  of  the  good 
lady,  and  after  she  had  given  him  some  wholesome  food  she 
had  prepared  with  her  own  hands,  she  knelt  down  by  his 
straw  pallet  and  prayed  earnestly  for  him  and  his  wife  with 
her  sweet  and  solemn  voice.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
scene."* 

The  head- quarters  at  Valley  Forge  was  very  small — con 
fined  to  two  rooms,  one  for  business  and  one  used  as  a 
sleeping  apartment  for  the  general  and  his  wife.  The  rest 
of  the  house  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Potts  and  his  family.  In 
a  letter  to  Mrs.  Lund  Washington,  at  Mount  Vernon,  written 
in  March,  Mrs.  Washington  said  : 

"The  general's  head-quarters  have  been  made  more  tol 
erable  by  the  addition  of  a  log-cabin  to  the  house,  built  to 
dine  in.  The  apartment  for  business  is  only  about  sixteen 
feet  square,  and  has  a  large  fireplace.  The  house  is  built 
of  stone.  The  walls  are  very  thick,  and  below  a  deep  east 
window,  out  of  which  the  general  can  look  upon  the  encamp- 

*  Dr.  Sparks  says  ("  Writings  of  Washington,"  vol.  i.),  "  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  joined  her  husband  at  Valley  Forge  in  February."  The  state 
ments  I  have  made  respecting  her  arrival  at  the  camp  at  Whitemarsh 
and  her  going  to  Valley  Forge  and  admission  into  the  family  of  Mr. 
Potts,  etc.,  are  given  on  the  verbal  authority  of  George  Washington 
Parke  Custis,  the  grandson  of  Mrs.  Washington,  of  Mrs.  Westlake,  above 
mentioned,  and  of  Dr.  /Eneas  Munson,  of  New  Haven. 


172  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ment,  he  had  a  box  made,  which  appears  as  a  part  of  the 
casement,  with  a  blind  trap-door  at  top,  in  which  he  keeps 
his  valuable  papers." 

At  about  the  same  time,  Mrs.  Washington  wrote  to  Mercy 
Warren,  saying,  "  It  has  given  me  unspeakable  pleasure  to 
hear  that  General  Burgoyne  and  his  army  are  in  safe  quar 
ters  in  your  State.  Would  a  bountiful  Providence  aim  a 
like  stroke  at  General  Howe  the  measure  of  my  happiness 
would  be  complete." 

The  window  depository  for  Washington's  papers  at  the 
Potts-house  was  still  there  when  I  visited  and  sketched  it 
in  1848.  The  log-cabin  alluded  to  occupied  the  place  of 
the  smaller  building  adjoining  the  gable  end  of  the  house, 
seen  in  the  sketch. 

Washington's  Lifeguard,  commanded  by  Major  Gibbs, 
of  Rhode  Island,  was  stationed  near  the  river  in  sight  of 
head-quarters,  and  the  various  brigades  were  scattered  over 
the  adjoining  hill-sides  under  the  command  of  Generals 
Knox,  Varnum,  Mclntosh,  Huntington,  Maxwell,  Muhlen- 
berg,  Weeden,  Learned,  Patterson,  Wayne,  Glover,  Poor, 
Scott,  and  Lord  Stirling.  The  wives  of  several  of  these  of 
ficers  reached  camp  in  February,  and  helped  to  dispel  some 
of  the  gloom  that  grew  deeper  and  deeper  over  the  scene 
until  late  in  March,  when  warmer  weather  made  soldier  life 
there  more  tolerable.  One  or  more  of  these  ladies  was  with 
Mrs.  Washington  every  day  until  early  in  May,  when  they 
returned  to  their  homes,  as  it  was  expected  the  campaign 
would  open  very  soon. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  the  comforts  of  the  soldiers  in 
creased.  Their  clothing  was  replenished  and  their  daily 
wants  were  more  bountifully  supplied.  The  shattered  regi- 


REJOICINGS  AT  VALLEY  FORGE.  173 

ments  were  filled.  A  more  hopeful  feeling  prevailed  in 
camp  and  throughout  the  country.  This  feeling  was  great 
ly  intensified  and  became  real  joy  among  the  soldiers,  when, 
on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  May,  a  despatch  reached  Washing 
ton  from  the  President  of  Congress  (which  was  then  in  ses 
sion  at  York,  beyond  the  Susquehanna  River),  announcing 
the  treaty  of  alliance,  amity,  and  commerce  between  the 
United  States  and  France,  perfected  on  the  6th  of  February. 
This  important -news  was  communicated  to  the  army  in 
general  orders  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  and  the  next  day 
was  set  apart  to  be  devoted  to  a  grateful  acknowledgment 
of  Divine  goodness  in  raising  up  a  r>mverful  friend  "  among 
the  princes  of  the  earth,  to  establish  liberty  and  independ 
ence  upon  a  solid  foundation,"  also  to  celebrate  the  great 
event  by  tokens  of  delight. 

Washington  ordered  the  several  brigades  to  be  assembled 
at  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  yth,  to  hear  prayers 
and  appropriate  discourses  from  their  several  chaplains. 
The  men  were  to  be  under  arms  for  inspection  and  parade 
at  a  given  signal,  when  they  were  to  be  led  to  a  specified 
position  to  fire  a  feu  de  joie  with  cannons  and  small-arms. 
At  another  signal  there  was  to  be  a  discharge  of  thirteen 
cannons  and  a  running  fire  of  small-arms,  when  the  whole 
army  were  to  huzza,  "Long  live  the  King  of  France  !"  Then 
another  discharge  of  cannons  and  muskets  was  to  be  given, 
followed  by  a  shout  of  the  army,  "  Long  live  the  friendly 
European  powers  /"  Then  a  third  discharge  of  cannons 
and  muskets  in  like  manner,  and  a  shout,  "  The  American 
States  r 

The  7th  was  a  beautiful  May-day.  The  troops  were  in 
motion  at  an  early  hour.  They  had  just  received  their  new 


174  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

uniforms  preparatory  for  a  summer  campaign.  Their  guns 
were  polished  and  their  other  accoutrements  were  in  per 
fect  order.  The  army  made  a  really  brilliant  appearance, 
and  were  well  disciplined,  for  they  had  been  several  weeks 
drilled  and  inspected  by  the  Baron  von  Steuben,  a  Prussian 
officer  of  distinction,  who  had  lately  joined  the  Continental 
army.  There  was  joy  and  peace  throughout  the  whole  camp 
when  the  brigades  assembled  at  their  respective  head-quar 
ters  to  participate  in  the  appointed  religious  services. 

The  commander-in-chief,  with  Mrs.  Washington,  his  staff, 
and  Generals  Knox  and  Stirling,  with  their  wives  and  their 
aides-de-camp,  walked  to  the  head-quarters  of  Maxwell's 
New  Jersey  brigade  (not  more  than  half  a  mile  from  the 
army  head-quarters),  where  they  were  received  with  a  silent 
military  salute  from  the  soldiery  there.  They  were  joined 
by  other  officers  of  the  army,  with  their  wives.  An  appro 
priate  discourse  was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter, 
after  which  all  the  officers  of  the  army  present  partook  of  a 
collation  provided  by  the  commander-in-chief,  to  which  two 
or  three  Whig  families  in  the  neighborhood  were  invited. 
When  the  commander  retired,  with  Mrs.  Washington  lean 
ing  upon  his  arm,  and  followed  by  those  who  accompanied 
them  from  head-quarters,  there  was  a  universal  huzzaing— 
11  Long  live  General  Washington!  Long  live  Lady  Washing 
ton!"  These  demonstrations  were  continued  until  the  gen 
eral  and  his  wife  had  proceeded  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
and  a  thousand  hats  were  tossed  in  the  air.  Washington 
and  his  retinue  several  times  returned  the  huzzas,  and  the 
ladies  waved  their  handkerchiefs. 

Immediately  after  these  events  at  Valley  Forge  Mrs. 
Washington  departed  for  Mount  Vernon,  where  she  arrived 


EVACUATION    OF    PHILADELPHIA.  175 

at  about  the  middle  of  May.  It  was  supposed  when  she 
left  that  a  campaign  would  soon  open  ;  but  General  Howe's 
army  had  been  much  weakened  by  dissipation  and  deser 
tion  during  the  eight  months'  sojourn  in  Philadelphia. 
Many  of  the  British  officers  had  lived  in  open  defiance  of 
the  demands  of  morality,  and  so  conspicuous  was  their  prof 
ligacy  that  many  Tory  families  who  had  welcomed  the  in 
vaders  had  prayed  for  the  departure  of  such  undesirable 
guests.  The  condition  of  the  army  was  such  that  Dr. 
Franklin  remarked  that  "  Howe  did  not  take  Philadelphia ; 
Philadelphia  took  Howe." 

On  the  24th  of  May  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton  super 
seded  General  Howe  in  command,  and  the  latter  departed 
for  England.  On  the  eve  of  his  departure  a  brilliant  fete, 
called  Mischianza,  was  given  in  honor  of  the  brothers  Howe 
(the  general  and  admiral),  which  was  invented  and  chiefly 
managed  by  Major  Andre,  who  became  Clinton's  accom 
plished  adjutant-general. 

At  the  middle  of  June  Sir  Henry  was  informed  that  a 
powerful  French  fleet  under  the  Count  D'Estaing  had 
sailed  for  America  from  Toulon,  and  might  enter  the  Del 
aware  River  at  any  hour.  Perceiving  his  peril,  he  imme 
diately  prepared  to  leave  Philadelphia  with  his  army  and 
hasten  to  New  York.  This  decision  shook  the  "Quaker 
City"  violently  with  emotions  of  joy  and  alarm.  The 
Whigs  rejoiced  because  they  hoped  for  deliverance.  The 
Tories  were  in  consternation,  for,  like  those  of  Boston, 
they  had  been  oppressors ;  and  when,  on  the  morning  of 
the  1 8th,  the  British  army  passed  over  the  Delaware  and 
began  its  flight  across  New  Jersey,  about  three  thousand 
Tories,  many  of  them  tenderly  nurtured,  accompanied  the 


1 76  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

troops,  fleeing  from  the  righteous  wrath  of  those  whom  they 
had  persecuted. 

The  American  army  under  Washington,  at  Valley  Forge, 
now  well  equipped  and  about  fifteen  thousand  strong,  fol 
lowed  the  flying  British  troops,  and  at  near  Monmouth 
Court-house,  in  New  Jersey,  Washington  fought  Clinton 
on  an  excessively  hot  day,  the  28th  of  June.  At  dusk  both 
armies,  exhausted  by  heat  and  fatigue,  lay  down  on  their 
arms,  expecting  to  renew  the  battle  at  dawn.  At  midnight 
Sir  Henry's  host  stole  noiselessly  away  in  the  darkness 
over  the  soft  sandy  roads,  unperceived  by  the  Americans, 
and  so  escaped.  Victory  had  been  snatched  from  Wash 
ington  by  the  treachery  of  General  Charles  Lee. 

At  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia,  and  on  his  march 
across  New  Jersey,  Clinton  lost  fully  six  hundred  men  by 
desertion.  A  large  proportion  of  these  had  formed  tender 
attachments  during  their  eight  months'  stay  in  Philadelphia, 
and  these  made  their  way  back  to  their  sweethearts. 

From  the  time  of  the  battle  at  Monmouth  Court-house 
until  the  winter  encampment  of  the  army  was  established  at 
Middlebrook,  in  New  Jersey,  the  troops  under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  Washington  were  not  engaged  in  any 
important  battle.  His  chief  efforts  were  directed  to  the 
task  of  imprisoning  the  British  army  on  Manhattan  Island, 
and  he  was  successful.  Stirring  military  events  occurred 
elsewhere.  In  July  Tories  and  Indians  desolated  the  Wyo 
ming  Valley  with  fire  and  sword.  In  August  there  was  fight 
ing  in  Rhode  Island,  in  which  the  Americans  were  worsted, 
because  the  French  fleet  and  troops  failed  to  co-operate 
with  them.  The  Tories  and  Indians  desolated  the  Mohawk 
Valley  and  its  neighborhood,  and  caused  it  to  be  named 


THE   AMERICAN    ARMY.  177 

"the  dark  and  bloody  ground;"  and  late  in  autumn  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  having  the  door  of  his  prison  towards  the 
sea  open,  sent  some  troops  to  Savannah,  in  Georgia,  who 
captured  that  city  and  carried  on  war  in  that  State. 

Washington  did  not  follow  the  British  army  in  their  flight 
from  Monmouth  Court-house,  but  marched  his  men  to  the 
Hudson  River,  crossed  over  at  the  King's  Ferry,  near  Hav- 
erstraw,  into  Westchester  County,  and  remained  there  until 
autumn,  when  he  recrossed  the  river  into  New  Jersey. 
After  forming  a  cordon  of  military  posts  around  the  British 
in  New  York,  from  Long  Island  Sound  to  the  Delaware 
River,  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other,  he  estab 
lished  a  winter  encampment  and  his  head-quarters  at  or 
near  the  village  of  Middlebrook,  on  the  Raritan  River,  in 
New  Jersey,  towards  the  middle  of  December.  There  his 
army  had  rested  from  the  2Qth  of  May  until  the  2d  of  July, 
in  1777,  while  watching  the  movements  of  the  British  at 
New  York. 

When  the  year  1778 — the  fourth  year  of  the  war — drew 
to  a  close,  the  British  army  had  accomplished  little  more  in 
the  way  of  conquest  than  it  had  at  the  end  of  the  second 
year,  while  the  Americans  had  gained  strength  and  confi 
dence  by  an  acquired  knowledge  of  military  tactics,  naval 
operations,  and  the  art  of  civil  government.  They  had  also 
secured  an  alliance  with  France.  But  their  finances  were  in 
a  wretched  condition.  They  had  $100,000,000  of  paper- 
money  afloat,  which  was  rapidly  depreciating,  and  the  public 
credit  was  as  rapidly  sinking. 

12 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WASHINGTON  established  his  head-quarters  at  Middle- 
brook,  in  New  Jersey,  on  December  u,  1778,  and  remained 
there  until  the  4th  of  June,  1779.  Seven  brigades  of  his 
army  were  encamped  on  the  gentle  slopes  between  the  plain 
and  the  steep  acclivities  of  the  mountain,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  village.  The  soldiers  were  exposed  to  life 
under  canvas  tents  until  comfortable  log -huts  were  com 
pleted  at  the  close  of  January.  These  were  constructed  of 
the  trees  which  covered  the  slopes  when  the  army  encamped 
there,  and  formed  a  regular  and  compact  village. 

The  exact  locality  of  Washington's  head-quarters  at  that 
time  cannot  now  be  determined.  It  was  somewhere  be 
tween  the  main  encampment  and  the  artillery  camp  of  Gen 
eral  Knox,  near  Pluckemin.  The  letters  from  head-quarters 
were  dated  at  "  Middlebrook."  When  I  was  at  that  village 
in  1848,  I  visited  the  venerable  Bergen  Bragaw,  a  hale  old 
man,  eighty -seven  years  old.  He  informed  me  that  the 
head-quarters  was  at  the  house  of  Ephraim  Berry.  It  was 
a  large  wooden  dwelling,  two  stories  in  height,  the  upper 
story  unfinished. 

Mrs.  Washington  arrived  at  head-quarters  on  a  very  mild 
winter's  day  early  in  February,  escorted  by  ten  dragoons. 
When  her  chariot  came  to  the  door,  Miss  Berry  seeing  a 
middle-aged  woman  with  a  colored  maid,  the  former  clad  in 
a  plain  russet  gown,  a  large  white  handkerchief  folded  over 


AT    MIDDLEBROOK.  179 

her  neck  and  bosom,  and  on  her  head  a  hood,  supposed  her 
to  be  a  domestic  sent  from  Mount  Vernon.  Mrs.  Berry  was 
undeceived  when  Washington  hastened  to  the  carriage,  as 
sisted  the  elderly  woman  to  alight,  and  received  her  with 
tokens  of  pleasure  and  affection.  Desiring  to  furnish  his 
wife  with  a  more  comfortable  and  retired  apartment,  he  at 
once  employed  two  apprentices  of  a  carpenter  to  fit  up  a 
room  in  the  upper  story  of  the  house.  One  of  these  ap 
prentices,  when  ninety-two  years  of  age,  gave  the  following 
account  of  the  affair  to  Mrs.  Ellet : 

"  Lady  Washington  arrived  before  the  work  was  begun. 
She  came  into  the  place,  a  portly-looking,  agreeable  woman 
of  forty-five,  and  said  to  us,  '  Now,  young  men,  I  care  for 
nothing  but  comfort  here,  and  should  like  you  to  fit  me  up 
a  closet  on  one  side  of  the  room  and  some  shelves  and 
places  for  hanging  clothes  on  the  other.'  We  went  to  work 
with  all  our  might.  Every  morning  about  eleven  o'clock 
Mrs.  Washington  came  up-stairs  with  a  glass  of  spirits  for 
each  of  us,  and  after  she  and  the  General  had  dined  we 
were  called  down  to  eat  at  their  table.  WTe  worked  very 
hard,  nailing  smooth  boards  over  the  rough  and  worm-eaten 
planks,  and  stopping  the  crevices  in  the  walls  made  by  time 
and  hard  usage.  Then  we  consulted  together  how  we  could 
smooth  the  uneven  floor,  and  take  out  or  cover  some  of  the 
huge  black  knots.  We  studied  to  do  something  to  please 
so  pleasant  a  lady,  and  to  make  some  return  in  our  humble 
way  for  the  kindness  of  the  General.  On  the  fourth  day, 
when  Mrs.  Washington  came  up  to  see  how  we  were  getting 
along,  we  had  finished  the  work,  made  the  shelves,  put  up 
the  pegs  in  the  wall,  built  the  closet,  and  converted  the 
rough  garret  into  a  comfortable  apartment.  As  she  stood 


l8o  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

looking  round,  I  said,  '  Madam,  we  have  endeavored  to  do 
the  best  we  could ;  I  hope  we  have  suited  you  ?'  She  re 
plied,  smiling,  '  I  am  astonished !  Your  work  would  do 
honor  to  an  old  master,  and  you  are  mere  lads.  I  am  not 
only  satisfied  but  highly  gratified  with  what  you  have  done 
for  my  comfort.'  " 

The  wives  of  several  of  the  general  officers  and  others 
were  in  the  camp  at  Middlebrook  at  the  time  of  Mrs.  Wash 
ington's  arrival.  They  welcomed  her  with  heartfelt  affec 
tion  and  delight.  A  ball  was  given  in  her  honor  immedi 
ately  after  her  advent.  It  was  opened  by  General  Washing 
ton  and  the  beautiful  Mrs.  Knox,  who  danced  a  minuet,  a 
figure  then  very  fashionable,  a  slow,  graceful  dance  marked 
by  small  steps. 

On  the  i8th  of  February  the  anniversary  of  the  alliance 
with  France  (February  6th)  was  celebrated  at  the  artillery 
encampment  of  General  Knox,  near  Pluckemin,  a  few  miles 
from  Middlebrook.  The  entertainment  on  the  occasion  was 
given  by  General  Knox  and  the  officers  of  the  artillery 
corps.  It  was  attended  by  the  commander-in-chief  and  all 
the  principal  officers  of  the  army  there,  and  by  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  Mrs.  General  Knox,  Mrs.  General  Greene,  and  ladies 
and  gentlemen  from  a  wide  circuit  around  the  camp.  There 
was  also  a  vast  concourse  of  spectators  from  almost  every 
part  of  New  Jersey. 

Extensive  preparations  had  been  made  for  this  entertain 
ment,  which  had  been  postponed  from  the  6th  to  the  i8th 
of  the  month  on  account  of  the  absence  of  Washington  at 
Philadelphia.  A  rude  "  temple,"  supported  by  a  colonnade 
one  hundred  feet  in  length,  decorated  with  evergreens  and 
thirteen  arches,  each  displaying  an  appropriate  painting, 


TEMPLE   AT   PLUCKEMIN.  l8l 

had  been  built  for  the  purpose.  The  celebration  was  be 
gun  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  by  a  discharge  of  thir 
teen  cannons.  Then  the  invited  guests  sat  down  to  a  ban 
quet  in  the  "  temple,"  which  was  designated  at  the  time  "  the 
Academy  in  the  Park.''*  In  the  evening  there  was.  a  fine 
display  of  fireworks,  under  the  direction  of  Col.  Ebenezer 
Stevens  of  the  artillery.  The  "  temple  "  was  brilliantly  light 
ed  by  hundreds  of  candles,  and  each  arch  displayed  an  illu 
minated  picture.  The  centre  arch  was  ornamented  with  a 
pediment  larger  than  any  of  the  others,  and  the  illuminat 
ed  pictures,  rude  but  effective,  painted  by  Charles  Willson 
Peale,  were  disposed  in  the  following  order : 

The  first  arch  on  the  right  represented  the  commence 
ment  of  hostilities  at  Lexington,  and  was  inscribed,  "  The 
scene  opened."  The  second  displayed  British  clemency, 
represented  in  the  burning  of  Charlestown,  Falmouth,  Nor 
folk,  and  Kingston.  The  third,  the  separation  of  America 
from  Britain — a  magnificent  arch  broken  in  the  centre,  with 
the  legend,  "  By  your  tyranny  to  the  people  of  America  you 
have  separated  the  wide  arch  of  an  extended  empire."  The 
fourth,  Britain  represented  as  a  decaying  empire  by  a  bar 
ren  country,  broken  arches,  fallen  spires,  ships  deserting  its 
shores,  birds  of  prey  hovering  over  its  mouldering  cities, 
and  a  gloomy  setting  sun.  It  bore  the  inscription — 

"  The  Babylonian  spires  are  sunk, 
Achaia,  Rome,  and  Egypt  mouldered  down; 
Time  shakes  the  stable  tyranny  of  thrones, 
And  tottering  empires  crush  by  their  own  weight." 

The  fifth,  America  represented  as  a  rising  empire — pros 
pects  of  a  fertile  country,  harbors  and  rivers  covered  with 


1 82  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ships,  new  canals  opening,  cities  rising  amid  woods,  a  splen 
did  rising  sun,  and  the  words — 

"  New  worlds  are  still  emerging  from  the  deep, 
The  old  descending,  in  their  time  to  rise." 

The  sixth,  a  grand  illuminated  representation  of  Louis  XVL, 
"the  encourager  of  letters,  the  supporter  of  the  rights  of 
humanity,  the  ally  and  friend  of  the  American  people." 
The  seventh  (the  centre  arch),  THE  FATHERS  IN  CONGRESS, 
and  the  legend,  Nil  desperandum  respublicce.  The  eighth, 
the  American  philosopher  and  ambassador  (Dr.  Franklin) 
extracting  lightning  from  the  clouds.  The  ninth,  the  battle 
near  Saratoga.  The  tenth,  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 
The  eleventh,  a  naval  fight  between  the  English  and  French. 
The  twelfth,  Warren,  Montgomery,  Mercer,  and  a  crowd  of 
other  American  heroes  who  had  fallen,  in  Elysium,  receiv 
ing  the  thanks  of  Brutus,  Cato,  and  other  spirits  of  all  ages, 
with  the  inscription,  "  Those  who  shed  their  blood  in  such 
a  cause  shall  live  and  reign  forever."  The  thirteenth  rep 
resented  "  Peace,"  her  right  hand  displaying  an  olive- 
branch  ;  at  her  feet  lay  the  fruits  of  the  harvest ;  the 
background  was  filled  with  flourishing  cities,  ports  crowded 
with  ships,  and  other  emblems  of  empire  and  unrestrained 
commerce. 

After  the  fireworks  on  this  occasion,  the  memorable  en 
tertainment  was  concluded  by  a  ball,  which  was  opened  by 
Washington,  with  Mrs.  Knox  as  his  partner. 

It  was  the  custom  of  General  Washington  during  these 
winter  encampments,  where  Mrs.  Washington  was. with  him, 
to  cultivate  a  social  spirit.  To  accomplish  this  he  invited 
a  certain  number  of  officers  every  day,  excepting  Sundays, 


AT    DINNER.  183 

to  dine  at  his  table  •  also  the  wives  of  officers  who  might 
be  in  camp,  and  sometimes  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the 
neighborhood.  The  general  and  Mrs.  Washington  usually 
sat  at  one  side  of  the  table,  while  his  secretary,  Colonel 
Hamilton  (while  he  was  in  the  military  family  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief),  performed  the  civilities  on  these  occasions. 
Dr.  Thacher,  after  dining  at  the  general's  table  one  day, 
made  the  following  record  in  his  journal  of  his  impressions 
of  the  persons  and  characteristics  of  Washington  and  his 
wife : 

"  His  tall  and  noble  stature  and  just  proportions,  his 
fine,  cheerful,  open  countenance,  simple  and  modest  de 
portment,  are  all  calculated  to  interest  every  beholder  in  his 
favor,  and  to  command  veneration  and  respect.  He  is 
feared  even  when  silent,  and  beloved  even  while  we  are  un 
conscious  of  the  motive.  ...  In  conversation  his  Excellency's 
expressive  countenance  is  peculiarly  interesting  and  pleas 
ing;  a  placid  smile  is  frequently  observed  on  his  lips,  but  a 
loud  laugh,  it  is  said,  seldom,  if  ever,  escapes  him.  He  is 
polite  and  attentive  to  each  individual  at  table,  and  retires 
after  the  compliment  of  a  few  glasses." 

"  Mrs.  Washington,"  Dr.  Thacher  writes,  "  combines  in  an 
uncommon  degree  great  dignity  of  manner  with  the  most 
pleasing  affability,  but  possesses  no  striking  marks  of  beauty. 
I  learn  from  the  Virginia  officers  that  Mrs.  Washington  has 
ever  been  honored  as  a  lady  of  distinguished  goodness,  pos 
sessing  all  the  virtues  which  adorn  her  sex,  amiable  in  her 
temper  and  deportment,  full  of  benignity,  benevolence,  and 
chanty,  seeking  for  objects  of  affection  and  poverty,  that 
she  may  extend  to  the  sufferer  the  hand  of  kindness  and  re 
lief.  These,  surely,  are  the  attributes  which  reveal  a  heart 


184  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

replete  with  those  virtues  which  are  so  appropriate  and  es 
timable  in  the  female  character." 

The  winter  at  the  time  of  the  encampment  at  Middle- 
brook  was  exceedingly  mild.  There  was  scarcely  a  fall  of 
snow  or  a  frost  after  the  loth  of  January.  Vegetation  in 
New  Jersey  began  to  grow  in  March  ;  the  fruit-trees  were  in 
bloom  on  the  loth  of  April,  and  the  roads  were  as  dusty  as 
in  June.  On  Valentine's-day  (February  i4th)  the  peach-trees 
were  in  bloom  in  Virginia. 

On  the  ist  of  May  the  French  minister  (M.  Gerard)  and 
a  Spanish  gentleman  arrived  at  the  camp.*  The  next  day 
the  whole  army  were  paraded  for  a  grand  review.  A  stage 
was  erected  in  a  large  field  for  the  accommodation  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen  as  spectators  of  the  pageant.  At  a  signal 
of  thirteen  cannons  the  troops,  accompanied  by  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  and  his  distinguished  guests,  were  led  to 
the  field  in  grand  procession  by  the  fine  legion  of  light- 
horse  commanded  by  Major  Henry  Lee.  There  they  were 
reviewed  by  Washington  and  the  foreigners,  when  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  and  his  guests  took  seats  on  the  stage  with 
Mrs.  Washington,  Mrs.  Greene,  Mrs.  Knox,  and  a  number 
of  other  ladies  who  had  come  to  the  review  in  their  car 
riages.  The  whole  army  then  performed  field  manoeuvres, 
with  firing  of  cannons  and  musketry,  and  passing  along  the 
front  of  the  stage  left  the  field. 

*  Don  Juan  Miralles,  an  official  agent  of  the  Spanish  Government, 
introduced  to  Washington  under  false  pretences  by  the  Governor  of  Ha 
vana.  He  came  to  spy  out  the  condition  of  the  public  affairs  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  report  to  the  Spanish  ministry.  Undoubtedly 
the  French  minister  well  knew  the  deception  that  was  being  practised, 
for  the  French  Government,  from  the  beginning  of  the  contest,  was  gov 
erned  in  its  actions  wholly  by  self-interest. 


A    NOTABLE    REVIEW.  185 

There  was  another  and  a  more  picturesque  review  of  the 
troops  on  the  i4th  of  May,  at  which  Mrs.  Washington  and 
many  other  ladies  were  present.  The  commander-in-chief 
on  his  beautiful  white  horse,  followed  by  Billy,  rode  in  front 
of  the  lines  and  received  the  salute.  He  was  accompanied 
by  a  group  of  Indian  chiefs  from  Western  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  dressed  and  decorated  in  the  most  fanciful  man 
ner.  Eagle's  plumes,  bunches  of  gay  feathers,  strings  of 
bear's  claws,  and  other  rude  things  ornamented  their  persons. 
From  their  noses  and  ears  hung  large  pendants.  Some  of 
them  were  half  naked,  others  wore  ragged  shawls  over  their 
shoulders  which  fluttered  in  the  wind.  They  were  mounted 
on  miserable  horses,  most  of  them  without  saddles,  and 
ropes  were  used  for  bridles.  They  carried  guns  in  all  sorts 
of  positions.  Mrs.  Washington  wrote  to  her  daughter-in-law 
the  next  morning :  "  Yesterday  I  saw  the  funniest,  at  the 
same  time  the  most  ridiculous  review  of  the  troops  I  ever 
heard  of.  Nearly  all  the  troops  were  drawn  up  in  order, 
and  Mrs.  Knox,  Mrs.  Greene,  and  myself  saw  the  whole 
performance  from  a  carriage.  The  General  and  Billy,  fol 
lowed  by  a  lot  of  mounted  savages,  rode  along  the  line. 
Some  of  the  Indians  were  fairly  fine-looking,  but  most  of 
them  appeared  worse  than  Falstaff's  gang.  And  such  horses 
and  trappings  !  The  General  says  it  was  done  to  keep  the 
Indians  friendly  towards  us.  The  appeared  like  cutthroats, 
all." 

Late  in  May  Mrs.  Washington  returned  to  Mount  Vernon, 
and  on  the  4th  of  June  the  encampment  at  Middlebrook 
was  broken  up  and  the  army  was  marched  to  the  vicinity  of 
the  Hudson  Highlands,  against  the  defence  of  which  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  was  making  demonstrations.  The  whole 


1 86  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

force  was  held  in  Smith's  Clove,  about  fifteen  miles  from 
West  Point.  Washington  made  his  head-quarters  at  the 
latter  place  from  July  until  December,  when  with  the  main 
body  of  the  troops  he  took  post  at  Morristown,  in  the  hill- 
country  of  East  Jersey,  and  there  he  established  the  winter 
head-quarters.  Strong  detachments  were  placed  at  West 
Point  and  other  posts  near  the  Hudson  River,  and  the  cav 
alry  were  cantoned  in  Connecticut. 

The  year  1779  had  been  fruitful  of  important  events  in 
the  history  of  the  inchoate  nation.  The  finances  were  in  a 
perilous  condition.  New  emissions  of  the  paper  currency 
had  rapidly  depreciated  that  currency  and  injured  the  pub 
lic  credit.  To  increase  the  financial  embarrassments,  the 
British  sent  out  from  New  York  cart-loads  of  counterfeit 
Continental  bills  to  be  circulated  among  the  people  and  so 
accelerate  the  depreciation.  "  Persons  going  into  other  col 
onies,"  so  ran  an  advertisement  in  a  New  York  journal, 
"  may  be  supplied  with  any  number  of  counterfeited  Con 
gress  notes  for  the  price  of  the  paper  per  ream." 

Military  operations  had  been  greatly  extended  geograph 
ically.  There  were  stirring  scenes  on  and  near  the  coasts 
of  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia.  There  was  war 
fare  in  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys,  and  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  sent  out  fierce  and  cruel  marauding  parties  to  des 
olate  the  towns  on  and  near  the  coasts  of  Connecticut. 

Meanwhile  the  troops  under  Washington  had  struck  some 
telling  blows.  General  Wayne  captured  a  strong  post  held 
by  the  British  at  Stony  Point,  on  the  Hudson,  in  July,  and 
in  August  Major  Lee  captured  the  British  post  at  Paulus 
Hook  (now  Jersey  City).  General  Sullivan  severely  chas 
tised  the  desolators  of  the  Wyoming  Valley — the  Indians  of 


FRENCH    ARMY.  187 

Central  New  York.  In  the  autumn  General  Lincoln  and 
allied  French  troops  besieged  Savannah,  but  the  effort  fail 
ed  because  of  the  desertion  of  the  Americans  by  the  French 
at  a  critical  moment. 

During  the  summer  Lafayette,  who  had  joined  the  Conti 
nental  army  as  a  volunteer  in  1777,  had  been  in  France, 
pleading  for  the  American  cause.  Chiefly  through  his  in 
fluence  the  French  Government  had  consented  to  send  an 
other  powerful  fleet  and  an  army  to  assist  the  Americans  in 
their  struggles.  When  informed  of  this  intended  expedi 
tion,  the  British  ministry  ordered  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  cause 
the  evacuation  of  Rhode  Island,  and  to  concentrate  all  his 
troops  in  the  North,  at  New  York.  It  was  to  watch  these 
and  confine  them  to  Manhattan  Island  that  Washington  es 
tablished  the  head-quarters  of  the  American  army  at  Mor- 
ristown. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

WASHINGTON  made  his  head-quarters  at  Morristown  at 
the  mansion  of  the  widow  of  Col.  Jacob  Ford,  who  com 
manded  a  regiment  of  New  Jersey  militia  during  the  flight 
of  the  American  army  from  the  Hudson  to  the  Delaware, 
late  in  1776.  This  house,  yet  standing,  was  built  of  brick 
and  covered  with  painted  plank.  At  the  time  we  are  con 
sidering  it  stood  on  the  Newark  and  Morristown  road,  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  Village  Green. 

The  general  and  his  suite  occupied  the  whole  of  the 
house  excepting  two  lower  rooms,  which  were  reserved  for 
Mrs.  Ford  and  her  family.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
main  passage  through  the  house  was  the  general's  dining- 
room,  and  immediately  over  it  was  his  sleeping-room  while 
Mrs.  Washington  was  at  head-quarters.  He  had  two  log  ad 
ditions  made  to  the  house— one  for  a  kitchen,  the  other  for 
offices  for  himself  and  Colonels  Hamilton  and  Tilghman. 
The  building  of  these  additions  was  so  long  delayed  in  that 
memorable  "hard  winter"  that  the  commander  complain 
ed  to  General  Greene,  the  quartermaster -general,  saying, 
"  There  is  not  a  place  in  which  a  servant  can  lodge  with 
the  smallest  degree  of  comfort.  Eighteen  belonging  to  my 
family  and  all  of  Mrs.  Ford's  are  crowded  together  in  her 
kitchen,  and  scarce  one  of  them  able  to  speak  for  the  colds 
they  have  caught." 

In  the  meadow,  a  few  rods  south-east  of  the  mansion, 


AT    MORRISTOWN.  189 

about  fifty  log-huts  were  built  for  the  accommodation  of 
Washington's  Lifeguard,  then  commanded  by  Major  Gibbs. 
In  that  meadow  Count  Pulaski  exercised  his  legion  of  cav 
alry,  and  performed  most  extraordinary  feats  of  horseman 
ship  for  the  amusement  and  emulation  of  other  officers. 
Among  his  surprising  feats,  he  would  discharge  his  pistol 
while  his  horse  was  under  full  speed,  throw  it  in  the  air, 
catch  it  by  the  barrel,  and  then  hurl  it  in  front  as  if  at  an 
enemy ;  without  checking  the  speed  of  his  horse,  he  would 
take  one  foot  from  the  stirrup  and,  bending  towards  the 
ground,  recover  his  pistol  and  wheel  into  line  with  as  much 
precision  as  if  he  had  been  engaged  in  nothing  but  in  the 
management  of  the  animal. 

Mrs.  Washington  arrived  at  head-quarters  at  about  the 
middle  of  January.  She  had  tarried  a  day  and  a  night  at 
Union  Farm,  in  New  Jersey,  with  the  family  of  Col.  Charles 
Stewart,  a  personal  friend  of  Washington  and  a  favorite  of 
ficer  of  his  staff.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Martha  Wilson,  gave 
to  a  friend  an  interesting  account  of  this  visit  at  her  father's 
house.  She  described  the  distinguished  woman  as  most 
agreeable  in  conversation,  and  in  her  manners  "  simple,  easy, 
and  dignified."  She  came  escorted  by  Major  Washington 
(the  general's  nephew)  and  ten  dragoons,  who  encamped  in 
an  out-building. 

Mrs.  Washington  conversed  much  with  Mrs.  Wilson,  then 
a  young  matron  of  twenty-two  and  a  widow  only  a  few 
months,  concerning  house-keeping  and  her  own  domestic 
affairs.  Among  other  particulars,  Mrs.  Washington  men 
tioned  that  she  had  a  great  deal  of  cloth  made  in  her  house 
at  Mount  Vernon,  and  kept  sixteen  spinning-wheels  in  con 
stant  operation.  She  showed  Mrs.  Wilson  two  dresses  of 


IQO  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

cotton  striped  with  silk,  manufactured  by  her  own  domes 
tics  and  worn  by  herself,  one  weighing  a  pound  and  a  half, 
the  other  rather  less.  The  silk  stripes  of  the  fabric  were 
made  from  ravellings  of  brown  silk  stockings  and  old  crim 
son  damask  chair -covers.  Her  coachman,  footman,  and 
waiting-maid,  who  accompanied  her,  were  all  attired  in  do 
mestic  cloth,  excepting  the  coachman's  cuffs,  which,  being 
scarlet,  were  imported  before  the  war.*  In  the  practice  of 
this  economy  and  moderation,  as  in  the  simplicity  of  her 
dress,  Mrs.  Washington  afforded  an  example  to  others  at 
that  perilous  time,  for  it  was  the  darkest  period  of  the  war. 
Mrs.  Washington  was  the  guest  of  Mrs.  Wilson  several 
times  during  the  war  while  the  former  was  on  her  way  to 
and  from  head-quarters.  Their  friendship  for  each  other 
then  formed  was  strong  and  lasting.  The  hospitality  she 
had  enjoyed  under  her  friend's  roof  was  not  forgotten  by 
Mrs.  Washington,  but  was  recognized  and  warmly  recipro 
cated  at  the  house  of  President  Washington,  at  Philadel 
phia,  by  marked  attention  to  the  daughter  and  only  child 
of  Mrs.  Wilson  on  her  entrance  into  society.  She  extend 
ed  to  the  young  lady  courtesies  not  usually  shown  by  elder 
ly  matrons  to  persons  of  her  age.  Mrs.  Washington  often 
called  upon  Miss  Wilson,  and  she  was  invariably  invited  to 
the  private  parties  at  the  presidential  mansion  and  to  the 
drawing-rooms. f 

*  See  Mrs.  Ellet's  *'  Women  of  the  Revolution,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  18. 

f  A  lady  describing  the  appearance  of  Miss  Wilson  at  a  drawing- 
room  has  given  us  a  glimpse  of  the  fashionable  dress  of  a  young  lady 
nearly  a  century  ago,  as  follows  :  "  Miss  Wilson  looked  beautifully  last 
night.  She  was  in  full  dress,  yet  in  elegant  simplicity.  She  wore  book- 
muslin  over  white  mantua,  trimmed  with  broad  lace  round  the  neck  ; 


A    SEVERE    WINTER.  IQI 

When  Mrs.  Washington  arrived  at  head-quarters,  Mrs. 
General  Greene  and  the  wives  of  other  officers  were  already 
in  camp.  The  winter  was  one  of  unusual  seventy.  So  in 
tense  was  the  cold  in  January  that  New  York  Bay  was  so 
thickly  frozen  over  that  large  bodies  of  troops  with  heavy 
cannons  passed  over  the  ice-bridge  from  New  York  City  to 


WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  MORRISTOWN. 

Staten  Island,  a  distance  of  six  miles.  Around  the  camp 
the  snow  lay  from  four  to  six  feet  in  depth,  obstructing 
travel  and  preventing  the  transportation  of  provisions  to 
the  camp. 

"  We  have  had  the  virtue  and  patience  of  the  army  put 

half  sleeves  of  the  same,  also  trimmed  with  lace,  with  white  satin  sash, 
with  slippers  ;  her  hair  elegantly  dressed  in  curls,  without  flowers,  feath 
ers,  or  jewellery.  Mrs.  Moylan  told  me  she  was  the  handsomest  person 
at  the  drawing-room,  and  more  admired  than  any  other  there." 


1 92  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

to  the  severest  trial,"  Washington  wrote  to  a  friend— "some 
times  it  has  been  five  or  six  days  together  without  bread ; 
at  other  times  as  many  without  meat,  and  once  or  twice  two 
or  three  days  at  a  time  without  either.  ...  At  one  time  the 
soldiers  ate  every  kind  of  horse  food  but  hay.  Buckwheat, 
common  wheat,  rye,  and  Indian -corn  composed  the  meal 
which  made  their  bread."  These  sufferings  caused  many 
desertions,  but  not  a  mutiny. 

The  nearest  portion  of  the  main  body  of  the  army  was 
about  two  miles  distant  from  head-quarters  —  near  enough 
to  be  called  into  service  instantly,  if  necessary.  During  the 
winter  many  false  alarms  occurred,  which  set  the  whole 
camp  in  motion.  Sometimes  an  alarm  would  begin  by  the 
firing  of  a  gun  at  some  remote  point.  This  would  be  re 
sponded  to  by  discharges  along  the  whole  line  of  sentinels 
to  the  head-quarters,  when  the  Lifeguard  would  immedi 
ately  march  to  the  home  of  the  general,  barricade  the  doors, 
and  throw  up  the  windows.  At  each  window  five  soldiers, 
with  their  muskets  cocked,  would  be  placed,  where  they 
would  remain  until  troops  from  the  camp  reached  head 
quarters,  and  the  cause  of  the  alarm  was  ascertained. 
These  occasions  were  very  annoying  to  the  ladies  of  the 
household,  for  both  Mrs.  Washington  and  Mrs.  Ford  were 
compelled  to  lie  in  bed,  sometimes  for  hours,  with  their 
room  full  of  soldiers,  and  the  keen  winter  air  from  the  open 
windows  piercing  through  their  drawn  curtains.  On  these 
occasions  Washington  invariably  went  to  Mrs.  Ford's  room, 
drew  the  bed-curtains,  and  assured  her  of  safety. 

Immediately  after  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Washington  at  head 
quarters,  some  of  the  principal  ladies  of  Morristown  made 
her  a  formal  visit  together,  to  welcome  her  to  their  society. 


VISITORS   AT   MORRISTOWN.  193 

Dressed  in  their  most  elegant  attire,  and  wearing  their  jewels 
and  other  ornaments,  they  were  ushered  into  the  presence 
of  the  distinguished  lady,  by  whom  they  were  cordially 
received.  They  were  surprised  to  find  her  habited  in  a 
very  plain  gown  made  of  home-made  stuff,  a  white  kerchief 
covering  her  neck  and  bosom,  a  neat  cap,  and  no  ornament 
but  a  plain  gold  wedding-ring.  While  with  her  right  hand 
she  gave  each  a  kindly  greeting,  in  her  left  hand  she  held  a 
half-knit  stocking,  the  ball  of  yarn  lying  in  an  outside  pocket 
hanging  at  her  side.  They  were  still  more  surprised,  when 
seated,  to, observe  the  dignified  little  woman,  while  engaged 
in  animated  conversation  with  them,  making  them  feel  at 
ease,  plying  her  knitting-needles  incessantly,  while  they 
spent  the  hour  in  her  presence  with  idle  fingers.  One  of 
the  ladies  wrote  to  a  friend  : 

"  Yesterday,  with  several  others,  I  visited  Lady  Washing 
ton  at  head-quarters.  We  expected  to  find  the  wealthy 
wife  of  the  great  general  elegantly  dressed,  for  the  time  of 
our  visit  had  been  fixed;  but,  instead,  she  was  neatly  at 
tired  in  a  plain  brown  habit.  Her  gracious  and  cheerful 
manners  delighted  us  all,  but  we  felt  rebuked  by  the  plain 
ness  of  her  apparel  and  her  example  of  persistent  industry, 
while  we  were  extravagantly  dressed  idlers,  a  name  not  very 
creditable  in  these  perilous  times.  She  seems  very  wise  in 
experience,  kind-hearted  and  winning  in  all  her  ways.  She 
talked  much  of  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  soldiers,  especial 
ly  of  the  sick  ones.  Her  heart  seemed  to  be  full  of  com 
passion  for  them." 

These  ladies  and  others  of  the  village  joined  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  most  heartily  in  schemes  and  labors  for  the  allevia 
tion  of  the  sick  in  camp,  and  with  the  wives  of  other  officers 

13 


194  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

made  an  agreeable  social  circle  during  that  dreadful  win 
ter. 

To  this  social  circle  a  notable  addition  was  made  when, 
at  the  close  of  February,  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  arrived  at 
camp  with  his  wife  and  charming  daughter,  Elizabeth,  then 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age.  They  occupied  a  house  not 
far  from  the  present  railway-station.  It  was  during  their 
sojourn  there  in  the  spring  of  1780  that  the  graces  of  Miss 
Schuyler  won  the  admiration  of  Colonel  Hamilton,  and  she 
afterwards  became  his  wife.  General  Schuyler  had  been 
sent  to  the  camp  by  Congress,  to  confer  with  Washington 
concerning  a  plan  of  operations  in  the  ensuing  campaign. 
He  was  regarded  by  that  body  and  by  the  commander-in- 
chief  as  one  of  the  wisest  of  counsellors. 

In  the  year  1848  I  passed  a  night,  by  invitation,  at  the 
head-quarters  of  Washington  at  Morristown.  It  then  be 
longed  to  Judge  Gabriel  Ford,  a  son  of  the  widow  Ford  be 
fore  mentioned.  He  was  a  lad  about  fourteen  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  encampment  there,  and  had  vivid  recol 
lections  of  occurrences  at  that  period.  Much  of  what  I 
have  here  recorded  about  the  head-quarters,  I  learned  from 
the  lips  of  this  venerable  man  during  a  long  evening's  con 
versation  with  him.  As  a  special  courtesy  I  was  permitted 
to  sleep  in  the  room  which  had  been  used  as  a  bedchamber 
by  Washington  and  his  wife.  The  carpet  upon  the  floor, 
dark  and  of  a  rich  pattern,  was  the  same  that  had  been 
pressed  by  the  feet  of  the  illustrious  occupants  nearly  seven 
ty  years  before.  And  in  the  apartment  below,  which  Wash 
ington  used  as  a  dining-room,  I  saw  a  "  secretary  "  and  book 
case  which  formed  a  portion  of  the  furniture  of  the  house 
at  the  time.  Among  other  incidents,  Judge  Ford  related 


HAMILTON   AND   MISS   SCHUYLER.  195 

an  interesting  one  connected  with  Colonel  Hamilton's  court 
ship  of  Miss  Schuyler. 

Young  Ford  was  a  favorite  with  Hamilton,  who  would 
give  him  the  countersign,  so  as  to  allow  him  to  play  at  the 
village  after  the  sentinels  were  posted  for  the  night.  On 
one  occasion  he  was  returning  home  about  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  and  had  passed  the  sentinel,  when  he  recog 
nized  the  voice  of  Hamilton  in  reply  to  the  soldier's  demand 
"  Who  comes  there  ?"  The  lad  stepped  aside  and  waited  for 
the  colonel  to  accompany  him  to  the  house.  The  latter 
came  to  the  point  of  the  presented  bayonet  of  the  sentinel 
to  give  the  countersign,  but  had  quite  forgotten  it.  Just 
then  he  recognized  young  Ford  in  the  gloom.  "  Aye,  master 
Ford,  is  that  you  ?"  he  said,  in  an  undertone,  and  stepping 
aside  he  said  to  the  lad  in  a  whisper,  "  Give  me  the  counter 
sign."  Ford  did  so,  when  Hamilton  stepped  in  front  of  the 
soldier  and  delivered  it.  The  sentinel,  seeing  the  move 
ment  and  suspecting  that  his  superior  was  testing  his  fidel 
ity,  kept  his  bayonet  unmoved. 

"  I  have  given  you  the  countersign ;  why  do  you  not 
shoulder  your  musket  ?"  asked  Hamilton. 

"  Will  that  do,  colonel  ?"  said  the  soldier. 

"  It  will  for  this  time,"  said  Hamilton  ;  "  let  me  pass." 

The  faithful  soldier  reluctantly  obeyed  the  illegal  order, 
and  Hamilton  and  his  young  companion  reached  head 
quarters  without  further  difficulty.  "  He  had  spent  the 
evening  with  Miss  Schuyler,"  said  Judge  Ford,  "  and 
thoughts  of  her  undoubtedly  expelled  the  countersign  from 
his  head." 

This  incident  became  known  to  Mrs.  Washington,  who, 
with  infinite  good-humor  amounting  to  fun,  rallied  Hamilton 


196  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

on  his  being  subdued  by  the  "  sly  archer,"  and  made  to  sur 
render  to  a  boy  in  a  double  sense. 

The  monotonous  life  in  camp  was  varied  in  April,  when 
the  Chevalier  de  Luzerne,  the  French  minister  and  his 
suite,  accompanied  by  De  Miralles,  the  Spanish  gentleman 
already  mentioned,  arrived  at  head-quarters.  They  remained 
some  time.  A  ball  was  given  at  the  Morris  Hotel  in  honor 
of  the  minister,  which  was  attended  by  the  general  and  Mrs. 
Washington,  General  Schuyler  and  his  wife  and  daughter, 
the  other  officers  of  the  army  with  their  wives,  Governor 
Livingston  and  his  wife  and  daughter,  and  many  ladies  and 
gentleman  of  the  neighborhood.  Immediately  after  the  ball, 
De  Miralles,  who  was  entertained  at  head-quarters,  was  at 
tacked  with  lung  fever,  and  died  on  the  28th.  He  was  ten 
derly  cared  for  by  Mrs.  Washington,  who  ministered  to  his 
wants  with  her  own  hands.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
the  burying-ground  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Morris- 
town.  The  religious  ceremonies  of  the  funeral  were  per 
formed  by  a  Spanish  priest  who  accompanied  Miralles. 
Washington  and  other  general  officers  and  members  of  Con 
gress  walked  in  the  funeral  procession  as  chief  mourners. 
The  coffin  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  four  artillery  offi 
cers  in  full  uniform.  During  the  procession  minute-guns 
were  fired.* 

*  Miralles,  it  was  said,  possessed  immense  wealth.  Previous  to  the 
burial,  his  body,  richly  dressed,  lay  in  state,  exposed  to  public  view,  as 
was  customary  in  Europe.  The  coffin  was  lined  throughout  with  fine 
crape  and  covered  on  the  outside  with  rich,  fine  black  velvet,  superbly 
ornamented.  The  body  was  in  full  dress — a  suit  of  scarlet,  embroidered 
with  rich  gold  lace,  a  three-cornered,  gold-laced  hat,  a  queued  wig,  white 
silk  stockings,  large  diamond  shoe  and  knee  buckles.  A  profusion  of 


MILITARY    EVENTS.  197 

Preparations  for  the  campaign  of  1780  were  made  quite 
early.  Congress  fixed  the  number  of  the  Continental  forces 
nominally  at  thirty-five  thousand  men,  but  at  the  beginning 
of  April,  when  the  States  were  to  have  completed  their 
quotas,  Washington's  immediate  command  did  not  exceed 
ten  thousand  men.  Early  in  May  there  were  signs  of  move 
ments  among  the  British  forces,  when  Mrs.  Washington  de 
parted  for  Mount  Vernon,  under  a  proper  escort,  and  did 
not  see  her  husband  again  until  she  rejoined  him  at  head 
quarters  late  in  the  year. 

Meanwhile,  important  events  had  occurred  in  various 
parts  of  the  infant  republic.  British  forces  took  possession 
of  Charleston,  in  South  Carolina,  in  May,  and  under  the 
general  command  of  Lord  Cornwallis  overran  that  State. 
Battles  and  skirmishes  were  quite  numerous  in  the  South. 
In  truth,  nearly  all  military  operations  of  moment  were 
confined  to  that  region  during  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
A  little  invasion  of  New  Jersey  from  Staten  Island  by  Brit 
ish  troops  occurred  early  in  June,  which  caused  the  breaking 
up  of  the  camp  at  Morristown  and  a  military  movement 
towards  the  Hudson  Highlands.  A  few  days  afterwards 
tidings  came  from  the  East  that  a  powerful  French  fleet, 
bearing  six  thousand  troops,  had  arrived  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
to  assist  the  Americans  in  their  struggle.  Then  followed 
the  discovery  of  Arnold's  treason  and  the  arrest  and  execu 
tion  of  his  complotter,  Major  Andre',  the  adjutant-general 
of  the  British  army. 


diamond  rings  decorated  his  fingers,  and  from  an  elegant  gold  watch  set 
with  diamonds  several  rich  seals  were  appended.  Miralles  left  three 
daughters,  who  each  became  heir  to  half  a  million  dollars. 


198  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

As  the  French  could  not  be  induced  to  co-operate  with- 
the  Americans  before  the  next  year,  Washington  cantoned 
his  army  in  winter -quarters  late  in  November,  at  points 
from  Colchester,  in  Connecticut,  on  the  east,  to  Lancaster, 
in  Pennsylvania,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  confining  the 
British  on  Manhattan  and  Staten  islands,  and  to  watch 
their  movements  there.  Many  troops  were  quartered  in 
and  near  the  Hudson  Highlands,  and  the  head-quarters  of 
the  army  was  established  at  New  Windsor,  on  the  west  side 
of  Newburg  Bay,  early  in  December. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MRS.  WASHINGTON  arrived  at  Philadelphia  late  in  No 
vember  (1780),  on  her  way  to  join  her  husband  at  head 
quarters.  She  tarried  several  days  in  that  city,  the  guest 
of  President  Reed,  whose  charming  wife  had  died  a  few 
weeks  before,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four  years. 

Mrs.  Washington  found  the  patriotic  ladies  of  Philadel 
phia  earnestly  engaged  in  efforts  for  the  relief  of  the  sol 
diers,  who  were  in  great  distress  from  want  of  sufficient 
clothing,  the  funds  of  the  commissariat  being  exhausted 
and  the  public  credit  almost  ruined.  The  paper  currency, 
which  soon  afterwards  ceased  circulation,  was  then  so  de 
preciated  that  its  purchasing  power  was  in  the  proportion 
of  forty  paper  dollars  to  one  of  specie.  In  the  patriotic 
labors  of  the  ladies  of  Philadelphia  Mrs.  Washington  most 
diligently  participated  during  her  brief  sojourn  there. 

The  Philadelphia  women  had  formed  an  association  dur 
ing  the  preceding  summer,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out 
this  patriotic  design  of  relief.  Mrs.  Reed,  though  in  feeble 
health  and  burdened  with  many  cares,  entered  heartily  into 
the  work,  and  by  unanimous  consent  was  chosen  president 
of  the  association.  All  ranks  of  society  joined  in  the  effort, 
and  so  liberal  were  the  contributions  in  money  that  the  ag 
gregate  sum  collected  was  over  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  in  specie  value.  The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  contrib 
uted,  in  the  name  of  his  wife,  $500  in  specie.  The  Countess 


200  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

de  Luzerne,  wife  of  the  French  minister,  gave  $6,000  in  Con 
tinental  money  (equal  to  $100  in  specie).  Mrs.  Washington 
gave  $20,000,  or  $340  in  specie.*  The  ladies  all  toiled  in 
cessantly  with  their  needles  in  fashioning  the  garments,  and 
many  of  them  gave  their  trinkets  to  raise  money  for  the 
cause.  The  Marquis  de  Chastellux,  an  accomplished  French 
officer,  who  was  in  Philadelphia  at  the  close  of  November, 
wrote  as  follows  concerning  his  visit  to  Mrs.  Bache,  daugh 
ter  of  Dr.  Franklin,  upon  whose  shoulders  the  official  man 
tle  of  Mrs.  Reed  had  fallen  : 

"  She  conducted  me  into  a  room  filled  with  work  lately 
finished  by  the  ladies  of  Philadelphia.  The  work  consisted 
neither  of  embroidered  tambour  waistcoats  nor  network  edg 
ing,  nor  of  gold  and  silver  brocade  ;  it  was  a  quantity  of 
shirts  for  the  soldiers  of  Pennsylvania.  The  ladies  bought 
the  linen  from  their  own  private  purses,  and  took  a  pleasure 
in  cutting  them  out  and  sewing  them  themselves.  On  each 
shirt  was  the  name  of  the  married,  or  unmarried,  lady  who 
made  it,  and  they  amounted  to  twenty-two  hundred." 

These  shirts  were  forwarded  to  camp  at  near  the  close  of 
the  year.  Mrs.  Bache  wrote  to  Washington  (December  26th) 
that  they  were  twenty-five  hundred  in  number,  and  would 
have  been  at  camp  much  sooner,  "had  not  the  general  sick 
ness  prevailed.  We  wish  them  to  be  worn,"  she  wrote, 
"with  as  much  pleasure  as  they  were  made." 

De  Chastellux  also  wrote  :  "  I  found  there  [at  Mr.  Reed's] 
Mrs.  Washington,  who  had  just  arrived  from  Virginia  and 

*  I  quote  the  following  entry  from  Washington's  day-book:  "Oct. 
ior  1780.  By  Mrs.  Ramsay,  Mrs.  Washington's  bounty  to  the  soldiers, 
20,000  dollars,  ^6,000." 


AT    NEW    WINDSOR.  2OI 

was  going  to  stay  with  her  husband,  as  she  does  at  the  end 
of  every  campaign.  She  is  about  forty,  or  five-and-forty, 
rather  plump,  but  fresh,  and  with  an  agreeable  face.'M 

Washington  established  his  head-quarters  at  New  Wind 
sor,  a  little  village  on  the  Hudson  two  miles  below  New- 
burgh,  on  the  Qth  of  December,  where  he  remained  until  the 
summer  of  1781.  He  occupied  a  plain,  old-fashioned  Dutch 
farm-house,  built  by  one  of  the  De  Witt  family.  It  was  not 
large,  but  very  comfortable  in  cold  weather.  Mrs.  WTashing- 
ton  arrived  there  at  the  middle  of  December,  and  was  re 
ceived,  as  usual,  with  the  warmest  tokens  of  welcome  by 
the  officers  and  their  wives  who  were  in  camp,  and  by  the 
soldiers  —  particularly  by  the  Lifeguard,  to  whom  she  was 
endeared  by  her  gracious  bearing  and  many  acts  of  kind 
ness.  At  head-quarters  she  gave  frequent  entertainments 
to  the  choice  social  circle  of  the  camp,  and  held  the  most 
friendly  relations  to  the  society  of  the  neighborhood.  Her 
first  entertainment  after  her  arrival  was  on  Christmas  (1780), 
the  chief  features  of  which  were  described  to  me  by  Uzal 
Knapp,  the  last  survivor  of  Washington's  Lifeguard. 

It  was  on  a  pleasant  afternoon  in  1848  that  I  visited  Mr. 

*  The  translator  (George  Grieve)  of  De  Chastellux's  ' '  Travels  in 
North  America"  into  English,  in  1783,  says  in  a  note:  "I  had  the 
pleasure  of  passing  a  day  or  two  with  Mrs.  Washington,  at  the  General's 
home  in  Virginia,  where  she  appeared  to  me  to  be  one  of  the  best  of 
women  in  the  world,  and  beloved  by  all  about  her.  She  has  no  family 
by  the  General,  but  was  surrounded  by  her  grandchildren  and  Mrs. 
Custis,  her  son's  widow.  The  family  were  then  in  mourning  for  Mr. 
Custis,  her  son  by  a  former  marriage,  whose  premature  death  was  a  sub 
ject  of  public  and  private  regret.  He  was  brought  up  by  the  General 
as  his  own  son,  and  formed  himself  successfully  on  his  model.  He  suc 
ceeded  the  General  as  representative  of  Fairfax  County." 


2O2  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

Knapp,  who  resided  a  few  miles  from  Newburgh.  He  was 
then  ninety-one  years  of  age.  In  answer  to  inquiries  about 
his  special  duty  as  a  Lifeguardsman  when  the  army  was  en 
camped  in  the  neighborhood  of  Newburgh,  he  said  he  was 
usually  a  special  guard  at  the  door  of  head-quarters,  at  the 
time  of  entertainments,  and  then  he  spoke  of  the  first  enter 
tainment  by  the  general  and  his  wife  at  New  Windsor,  on 
Christmas-day. 

"  I  shall  never  forget  it,"  he  said.  "  There  was  trouble 
at  the  time  in  procuring  poultry  for  head-quarters,  particu 
larly  turkeys,  for  the  camp  had  but  lately  been  established, 
and  the  farmers  in  all  directions  had  been  robbed  of  their 
fowls  by  the  soldiers.  As  I  knew  all  the  farmers  in  the 
neighborhood,  I  was  sent  to  procure  poultry  for  this  occa 
sion.  I  travelled  far  without  success,  when  I  came  to  the 
home  of  Gen.  James  Clinton,  who  was  then  in  the  Northern 
Department.  His  wife,  Molly,  one  of  the  best  of  women, 
had  locked  up  several  turkeys  for  her  family's  use,  but  gladly 
let  me  have  three  of  them  for  the  general,  with  which  I  re 
turned  to  head-quarters." 

"Who  were  at  that  Christmas  dinner?"  I  inquired. 

"  I  cannot  remember  all,"  he  answered.  "  There  were 
two  young  French  officers  from  Rochambeau's  army  at  New 
port,  Governor  George  Clinton  and  his  wife  or  daughter, 
some  gentlemen  and  their  wives  from  the  neighborhood, 
Molly  Clinton,  who,  you  know,  was  the  mother  of  De  Witt 
Clinton,  and  the  staff-officers  and  the  wives  of  two  of  them. 
Colonel  Hamilton  was  then  in  Albany,  where  he  had  mar 
ried  General  Schuyler's  daughter  only  ten  days  before,  and 
did  not  return  until  after  the  holidays.  There  were  about 
twenty  at.  the  table,  which  was  set  in  the  biggest  room  in 


A    CHRISTMAS    DINNER.  203 

the  house.  Besides  poultry  there  were  beef  and  mutton. 
After  dinner  spiced  wine  was  passed  round,  followed  by  pies, 
puddings,  apples,  nuts,*  and  cider.  I  was  detailed  as  a  ser 
geant  to  take  charge  of  the  Lifeguard  band,  which  played 
lively  tunes  during  the  feast,  and  so  I  saw  all  that  was  going 
on  in  the  room,  for  we  were  stationed  in  the  passage  through 
which  each  guest  went  to  the  dining-room. 

"  On  such  occasions  Colonel  Hamilton  generally  sat  at 
the  head  of  the  table,  but  now  being  absent,  the  general 
presided  at  one  end  of  the  table  himself,  and  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  at  the  other  end.  She  was  a  short,  stout  built,  and 
good  little  woman.  We  all  loved  her.  Before  the  guests 
sat  clown,  the  general,  standing,  asked  a  blessing  with  sol 
emn  tones  and  closed  eyes.  Old  Billy,  Washington's  body- 
servant,  whose  head  appeared  like  a  bunch  of  white  sheep's- 


*  According  to  De  Chastellux,  Washington  was  extremely  fond  of 
hickory  nuts.  Describing  a  dinner  at  head-quarters  at  which  the  mar 
quis  "  assisted,"  he  wrote,  "  After  this  the  cloth  was  taken  off,  and  apples 
and  a  great  quantity  of  nuts  were  served,  which  General  Washington 
usually  continued  eating  for  two  hours,  toasting  and  conversing  all  the 
time.  These  nuts  are  small  and  dry,  and  have  so  hard  a  shell  that  they 
can  only  be  broken  by  the  hammer.  They  are  served  half  open,  and 
the  company  are  never  done  picking  and  eating  them." 

It  is  also  related  by  another  writer  that  both  Mrs.  Washington  and  her 
husband  were  excessively  fond  of  eggs  as  food.  While  she  was  at  New 
Windsor  eggs  became  so  scarce  that  few  could  be  procured  for  the  gen 
eral's  table.  So  reported  his  purveyor,  one  of  the  Lifeguard.  Wash 
ington  immediately  made  a  requisition  on  the  quartermaster  for  a  large 
quantity  of  salt.  Salt  was  such  a  luxury  among  the  people  that  it  be 
came  a  sort  of  currency.  The  country  people  were  informed  that  salt 
would  be  given  for  eggs,  and  very  soon  the  table  at  head-quarters  was 
bountifully  supplied  with  them. 


2O4 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


wool,  was  the  chief  waiter  on  that  occasion,  and  moved  with 
great  dignity.  In  the  evening  some  of  the  young  people  of 
the  village  were  invited  in,  together  with  the  non-commis 
sioned  officers  of  the  Guard,  and  all  indulged  in  innocent 
amusement,  particularly  dancing,  until  nine  o'clock,  when 
the  company  broke  up.  Captain  Colfax,  who  commanded 
the  Guard,  was  a  guest  at  the  dinner.  We  all  had  a  good 
time. 

"  Oh !  I  forgot  to  tell  you  the  best  part  of  my  story  of 
this  Christmas  dinner,"  said  the  veteran.  "  It  was  the  re 
fusal  of  a  proud  little  girl  to  accept  Mrs.  Washington's 
invitation  to  dine  with  her  and  her  friends  on  that  day. 

The  little  maid  was  then  in 
her  teens,  and  was  less  than 
three  feet  high.  When  she 
became  a  woman  she  was 
never  a  yard  in  height.  She 
thought  Mrs.  Washington's 
invitation  was  given  only  for 
the  purpose  of  gratifying  the 
curiosity  of  her  guests.  The 
maiden's  name  was  Anna 
Brewster,  and  she  was  de 
scended  from  the  famous 
Elder  Brewster  of  the  May 
flower.  She  was  handsome, 
and  perfect  in  form,  the 

smallest  woman  ever  seen  in  America.  She  lived  a  maiden 
until  she  was  seventy-five  years  old,  always  dignified  in  man 
ners  and  loved  by  everybody.  More  than  fifty  years  ago  a 
farmer's  son  living  in  the  neighborhood,  after  spending  an 


UZAL    KNAPP. 


THE    LIFEGUARDSMAN.  205 

evening  with  her  when  she  was  about  thirty  years  old,  wrote 
an  acrostic  on  her  name.  He  gave  it  to  a  friend  living  in 
New  York,  who  had  it  printed  in  a  newspaper,  which  I  have 
kept  until  now.  I'll  show  it  to  you." 

The  old  Guardsman  stepped  into  another  room  and 
brought  out  a  faded  and  worn  newspaper,  from  which  I 
copied  the  effusion.*  Sergeant  Knapp  lived  until  January, 

*  The  old  Guardsman's  memory  was  a  little  at  fault  concerning  the 
acrostic.  It  was  written  by  Moses  Guest,  a  native  of  New  Brunswick, 
who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  New  Jersey  line  and  had  assisted  in  the 
capture  of  the  famous  British  partisan  leader,  Lieut. -col.  J.  G.  Simcoe, 
in  October,  1779.  When  he  wrote  the  poem  in  1794,  he  was  thirty- 
eight  years  of  age.  In  a  collection  of  his  poems,  published  in  1823,  the 
acrostic  appears,  and  in  a  note  appended  to  it  the  author  says  it  was 
written  after  spending  an  evening  with  the  little  young  woman,  who  was 
then  twenty -four  years  of  age,  and  "only  two  feet  eight  inches  in 
height."  Mr.  Guest,  alluding  to  her  refusal  to  accept  the  invitation  to 
participate  in  the  Christmas  dinner,  says  she  was  afterwards  prevailed 
upon  to  become  one  of  Mrs.  Washington's  family.  The  rare  volume  of 
poems  by  Mr.  Guest  is  in  the  possession  of  a  friend.  The  following  is 
a  copy  of  the  acrostic  : 

"  A  pretty,  charming  little  creature, 
N  eat  and  complete  in  every  feature, 
N  ow  at  New  Windsor  may  be  seen, 
A  11  beauteous  in  her  air  and  mien. 

B  irth  and  power,  wealth  and  fame, 
R  ise  not  to  view  when  her  we  name; 
E  very  virtue  in  her  shine, 
W  isely  nice  but  not  o'er  fine. 

S  he  has  a  soul  that's  great,  'tis  said, 
T  hough  small's  the  body  of  this  maid; 
E  'en  though  the  casket  is  but  small, 
R  eason  proclaims  the  jewel  all." 


2O6  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

1856,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years.  His  re 
mains  repose  at  the  foot  of  a  flag-staff  a  few  yards  from 
Washington's  head-quarters  at  Newburgh,  in  a  beautiful  sar 
cophagus  made  of  brown  freestone,  designed  by  H.  K. 
Brown,  the  sculptor. 

The  life  of  Mrs.  Washington  at  New  Windsor  was  not, 
in  its  general  aspects,  unlike  that  at  other  places  while  in 
camp.  There  were  more  excitements  and  anxiety  for  her 
self  and  husband  than  at  any  other  time  while  she  was  in 
camp,  excepting  at  Cambridge,  for  there  were  important 
military  operations  in  various  places  during  the  whole  time 
of  her  sojourn  at  New  Windsor.  At  the  beginning  of  Jan 
uary  (1781)  there  was  a  serious  mutiny  among  the  Pennsyl 
vania  troops  near  Morristown.  Arnold  the  traitor,  at  the 
head  of  British  and  Tory  marauders,  desolated  plantations 
on  the  borders  of  the  James  River,  in  Virginia,  and  carried 
away  a  vast  amount  of  plunder.  The  French  army  and 
navy  at  Newport  demanded  Washington's  personal  atten 
tion,  and  caused  his  absence  from  head-quarters  nineteen 
days  in  March,  on  a  visit  to  Rochambeau,  to  confer  with 
him  concerning  the  ensuing  campaign.  In  the  Carolinas 
battles  and  skirmishes,  and  other  active  military  operations, 
were  in  progress  all  the  winter  and  spring. 

Mrs.  Washington  was  made  specially  anxious  because  of 
another  invasion  of  the  Potomac  region  by  British  armed 
vessels  in  April,  which  threatened  the  desolation  of  her 
home.  One  of  these  vessels  anchored  off  Mount  Vernon. 
The  commander  sent  a  flag  on  shore,  demanding  an  inter 
view  on  his  vessel  with  Lund  Washington,  the  trusted  man 
ager  of  the  estate.  Mr.  Washington  complied,  when  a  de 
mand  was  made  for  supplies  as  a  ransom.  The  commander 


LIFE    AT    NEW    WINDSOR.  207 

agreed  that  if  these  should  be  furnished  he  would  spare  the 
estate.  Already  some  of  the  slaves  had  deserted  and  were 
on  the  vessel.  Mr.  Washington,  anxious  to  save  the  prop 
erty,  yielded.  After  receiving  the  quantity  of  supplies  de 
manded,  the  vessel  sailed  down  the  river.  This  compliance 
on  the  part  of  his  agent  drew  from  Washington  a  most 
pointed  rebuke,  in  a  letter  dated  April  3oth,  in  which  he 
said : 

"  I  am  thoroughly  persuaded  that  you  acted  from  your 
best  judgment,  and  I  believe  that  your  desire  to  preserve 
my  property  and  rescue  the  buildings  from  impending  dan 
ger  was  your  governing  motive  •  but  to  go  on  board  their 
vessels,  carry  them  refreshments,  commune  with  a  parcel  of 
plundering  scoundrels,  and  request  a  favor  by  asking  a  sur 
render  of  my  negroes,  was  exceedingly  ill-judged,  and,  it  is 
to  be  feared,  will  be  unhappy  in  its  consequences,  as  it  will 
be  a  precedent  for  others  and  may  become  a  subject  for 
animadversion." 

The  monotony  of  Mrs.  Washington's  life  at  head-quarters 
was  broken  occasionally  by  the  arrival  of  strangers — mili 
tary  officers  from  the  French  camp  in  the  East,  civil  officers 
from  the  French  diplomatic  bureau  at  Philadelphia,  and  a 
member,  or  members,  of  Congress.  In  February  the  gen 
eral  lost  one  of  the  most  valued  (socially  and  officially)  of 
his  military  family,  by  the  withdrawal  of  Colonel  Hamilton 
from  his  staff.  The  departure  of  that  officer  and  his  charm 
ing  wife  from  head-quarters  was  deeply  regretted  by  Mrs. 
Washington ;  but  she  always  yielded  with  cheerfulness  to 
the  inevitable,  and  was  a  continual  ray  cf  sunshine  beam 
ing  with  hope  for  the  often  perplexed  mind  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief.  She  remained  with  him  until  preparations 


208  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

were  made  for  a  junction  of  the  allied  American  and  French 
armies  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  lower  Hudson,  late  in 
June,  when  she  returned  to  Mount  Vernon.  There  she 
dwelt  in  the  loving  society  of  her  children  and  grandchildren 
until  near  the  close  of  November,  when,  saddened  by  a  great 
bereavement,  she  accompanied  her  husband,  a  victor  in  the 
field,  to  Philadelphia. 

An  event  occurred  at  Mount  Vernon  in  the  second  week 
in  September  (1781)  which  startled  the  dwellers  there  as 
much  as  if  a  hostile  flotilla  had  anchored  in  the  river  before 
the  mansion.  It  was  the  sudden  and  unheralded  arrival, 
late  at  night,  of  the  master,  who  had  not  crossed  its  thresh 
old  since  May,  1775.  He  was  accompanied  only  by  Colonel 
Humphreys  and  the  faithful  Billy.  They  had  left  the  Count 
de  Rochambeau  and  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux  —  one  at 
Alexandria  and  the  other  at  Georgetown — to  follow  them 
in  the  morning.  Very  soon  the  whole  household  was  astir, 
and  the  news  flew  quickly  over  the  whole  estate  that  the 
master  had  arrived.  At  early  dawn  the  servants  came  from 
every  cabin  to  greet  him,  and  many  of  the  older  ones  looked 
sorrowfully  upon  a  face  so  changed  by  the  storms  of  cam 
paigns  and  the  mighty  cares  which  had  burdened  his  mind 
during  more  than  six  years  of  absence. 

This  hallowed  home — hallowed  by  joys  and  sorrows — was 
a  place  of  rest  for  the  officers  who  accompanied  Washing 
ton.  Not  so  for  him.  He  was  not  permitted  to  pass  even 
an  hour  alone  with  his  wife.  Public  and  private  cares  were 
pressing  heavily  upon  him.  He  was  on  his  way  to  measure 
strength  with  a  powerful  enemy,  and  his  words  of  affection 
were  few  and  hurried.  All  the  morning  after  his  arrival  he 
was  closeted  with  his  manager,  and  before  dinner  he  wrote 


THE    MASTER   AT    MOUNT    VERNON.  209 

to  Lafayette,  who  was  contending  with-  Cornwallis  in  Vir 
ginia,  that  they  were  thus  far  on  their  way  to  him,  and  would 
be  at  his  encampment  at  Williamsburg  on  the  i4th  of  Sep 
tember.  Cornwallis  had  been  driven  out  of  the  Carolinas, 
and  was  now  at  Yorktown,  on  the  Virginia  peninsula,  in  a 
camp  which  he  was  strongly  fortifying. 

On  the  second  day  after  Washington's  arrival  at  Mount 
Vernon — the  nth  of  September — the  mansion,  not  nearly 
so  large  as  now,  was  crowded  with  guests,  and  ladies  and 
gentlemen  from  the  country  for  miles  around  sat  at  table 
with  the  master  and  mistress.  There,  too,  were  four  little 
children  whom  the  master  and  mistress  loved  as  their  own, 
for  they  were  Mrs.  Washington's  grandchildren.  The  eldest 
was  a  beautiful  girl  five  years  old ;  the  youngest  a  boy  only 
six  months  old.  They  were  the  children  of  John  Parke 
Custis  and  his  fair  young  wife,  and  all  had  been  born  during 
the  absence  of  Washington  from  his  home. 

On  his  departure  from  Mount  Vernon,  Washington  was 
accompanied  by  young  Custis,  then  twenty-eight  years  of 
age,  who  took  the  position  of  aide-de-camp  on  the  general's 
staff.  It  was  a  severe  trial  of  the  fortitude  of  Mrs.  \Vash- 
ington  to  bid  adieu  to  her  husband  going  to  a  death-struggle 
with  a  British  army.  It  was  a  poignant  grief  for  her,  as  a 
mother,  to  part  with  her  only  child,  on  whom  her  fondest 
earthly  affections  were  centred,  going  on  such  a  perilous 
errand.  Equally  keen  was  the  grief  of  the  young  wife  whose 
husband  now  went  out  to  battle  for  the  first  time.  How 
eagerly  did  those  wives  and  mothers  watch  for  the  courier 
who  almost  daily  brought  intelligence  from  the  camp. 

The  allied  American  and  French  armies,  twelve  thousand 
strong,  had  joined  on  the  Hudson  early  in  July,  made  their 

14 


210  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

way  to  the  Virginia  peninsula,  and  invested  Cornwallis  in 
his  fortified  camp  at  Yorktown.  They  formed  a  semicir 
cular  line,  each  end  resting  on  the  York  River,  on  Septem 
ber  28th.  After  compelling  Cornwallis  to  abandon  his  out 
works,  they  began  a  regular  siege,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  a  French  fleet  under  the  Count  de  Grasse,  the  allies  com 
pelled  the  British  to  surrender,  on  October  19,  1781. 

There  was  peculiar  joy  in  the  family  at  Mount  Vernon 
when,  at  early  dawn  on  a  bright,  cool  morning,  a  messenger 
arrived  with  the  glad  intelligence  of  the  great  victory — a 
prophecy  of  peace  and  a  speedy  return  of  loved  ones  to 
their  home.  The  same  messenger  also  conveyed  from 
Washington  the  sad  tidings  that  Mr.  Custis  was  lying  very 
ill  with  camp-fever  at  the  house  of  Colonel  Bassett,  the  hus 
band  of  Mrs.  Washington's  sister,  at  Eltham,  in  Kent.  His 
mother  and  wife,  with  his  two  younger  children  and  their 
nurse,*  were  soon  upon  the  road,  hastening  to  the  bedside 

*  During  my  first  visit  at  Arlington  House,  in  1848,  the  seat  of  George 
Washington  Parke  Custis,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Potomac,  opposite 
Georgetown,  I  saw  and  conversed  with  this  nurse.  She  was  the  last 
survivor  of  the  slaves  of  Washington.  She  was  a  young  girl  at  the  time 
of  the  occurrence  at  Eltham.  Every  morning  she  was  present  at  the 
family  prayers  at  Arlington,  which  were  read  by  the  pious  Mrs.  Custis. 
The  nurse  was  very  old,  and  so  afflicted  with  rheumatism  that  when  she 
came  out  from  a  small  side  room  Mrs.  Custis  had  to  assist  her  in  kneel 
ing  and  rising.  After  she  returned  to  her  room  I  asked  Mrs.  Custis  if 
her  mind  was  clear  and  memory  trustworthy.  She  answered  in  the  af 
firmative,  and  gave  me  permission  to  go  in  and  talk  with  her.  I  spent 
an  hour  with  her  most  profitably,  during  which  time  she  gave  me  quite 
a  minute  account  of  the  sad  journey  of  her  mistress  to  Eltham  and  back, 
and  of  the  occurrences  there. 

The  two  children  then  adopted  by  Washington  as  his  own  were  El- 


WASHINGTON'S  ADOPTED  CHILDREN.  211 

of  the  sufferer.  They  tarried  not  a  moment  on  the  way,  ex 
cept  to  feed  the  horses.  Washington  had  sent  his  trusted 
friend,  Dr.  Craik,  to  Mr.  Custis,  and  followed  himself  as 
soon  as  important  business  at  Yorktown  would  allow.  He 
rode  all  night,  arriving  at  Colonel  Bassett's  at  dawn,  a  few 
hours  after  the  anxious  women  from  Mount  Vernon  had 
reached  the  bedside.  They  were  all  there  just  in  time  to 
see  the  beloved  son  and  husband  expire.  The  young  wife 
was  made  a  widow,  and  the  loving  mistress  of  Mount  Ver 
non  a  childless  woman.  Writing  to  Lafayette  from  Mount 
Vernon,  Washington  said : 

"  I  arrived  at  Eltham,  the  seat  of  Colonel  Bassett,  in  time 
to  see  poor  Custis  breathe  his  last.  This  unexpected  and 
affecting  event  threw  Mrs.  Washington  and  Mrs.  Custis,  who 
were  both  present,  into  such  deep  distress  that  the  circum 
stance  of  it,  and  a  duty  I  owed  to  the  deceased  in  assisting  at 
his  funeral,  prevented  my  reaching  this  place  till  the  i3th." 

After  the  first  paroxysm  of  grief  had  subsided,  Mrs. 
Washington  and  her  husband  were  closeted  together  for 
some  time.  Then  the  general  approached  the  stricken 
widow,  and  spoke  many  soothing  words  to  her,  and  con 
cluded  by  saying  : 

"  Your  two  younger  children  I  adopt  as  my  own." 

Mr.  Custis  was  buried  at  Eltham,  when  the  two  sorrowing 
women  returned  to  Mount  Vernon. 

Washington  left  Yorktown  on  the  5th  of  November,  with 
a  large  retinue  of  American  and  French  officers,  and  pro 
ceeded  first  to  Mount  Vernon  and  thence  to  Philadelphia. 

eanor  Parke  Custis,  who  was  between  two  and  three  years  of  age,  and 
George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  then  six  months  old,  who  became  one 
of  the  executors  of  Washington's  will,  and  lived  until  1857. 


212  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

At  Fredericksburg  he  visited  his  mother  and  received  the 
honors  mentioned  on  page  62  of  this  work.  The  next  day 
(November  i3th),  with  a  single  aide  and  his  servant  Billy,  he 
rode  to  his  home,  where  he  remained  about  a  week,  when, 
with  Mrs.  Washington,  he  journeyed  to  Philadelphia,  receiv 
ing  congratulatory  addresses  at  Alexandria,  Annapolis,  and 
Baltimore.  Arriving  at  the  seat  of  government,  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  took  up  her  abode  with  a  friend.  The  general  was 
received  with  great  enthusiasm  by  the  people.  The  Con 
gress  had  voted  to  present  to  him  two  tattered  flags  taken 
from  the  British  at  Yorktown,  and  these  were  given  him  at  the 
close  of  the  year  by  General  Lincoln,  the  Secretary  of  War.* 
At  the  request  of  Congress,  Washington  remained  several 
months  in  Philadelphia,  both  that  he  might  enjoy  a  respite 
from  the  fatigues  of  war  and  that  they  might  avail  themselves 
of  his  aid  in  making  preparations  for  securing  the  advan 
tages  of  the  recent  victories  and  for  another  campaign,  if 
necessary.  He  and  Mrs.  Washington  tarried  together  in 
Philadelphia  until  late  in  April,  1782,  when  he  made  his 
head-quarters  at  Newburgh,  on  the  Hudson.  He  continued 
the  head-quarters  of  the  army  at  that  village  until  midsum 
mer  of  1783,  Mrs.  Washington  spending  most  of  the  time 
with  him. 

*  One  of  these  colors,  considerably  tattered,  was  the  flag  of  the  7th  Brit 
ish  regiment,  made  of  heavy  twilled  silk,  six  feet  in  length  and  five  feet 
four  inches  in  width.  The  ground  was  blue,  the  central  strips  of  the  cross 
were  red,  the  marginal  ones  were  white.  In  the  centre  was  a  crown, 
and  beneath  it  a  garter,  with  the  usual  inscription  in  Norman  French — 
Evil  be  to  him  who  evil  thinketh— enclosing  a  full-blown  rose, the  floral  em 
blem  of  England.  This,  with  a  flag  captured  from  the  Hessians  at  Tren 
ton  and  presented  to  him,  were  destroyed  by  fire  that  consumed  the  mu 
seum  at  Alexandria  a  few  years  ago. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown  virtually  closed 
the  war,  but  the  Continental  army  was  not  actually  disband 
ed  until  late  in  1783. 

Intelligence  of  the  fate  of  Cornwallis  and  his  army  fell  in 
the  midst  of  the  war-party  in  the  British  Parliament  like  an 
exploding  bomb-shell.  The  wisest  statesmen  of  all  parties 
considered  the  events  at  Yorktown  as  a  death-blow  to  all 
hope  for  future  conquests  in  the  United  States.  Lord  North, 
the  British  premier,  saw  this  clearly,  and  was  greatly  dis 
tressed  by  the  fearful  tidings.  He  paced  his  room  violent 
ly,  and  throwing  his  arms  wildly  about,  exclaimed,  "  Oh, 
God,  it's  all  over!  it's  all  over!" 

A  cessation  of  hostilities  was  agreed  upon  by  Parliament 
in  March,  1782,  and  by  mutual  consent  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  appointed  commissioners  to  treat  for 
peace  on  the  basis  of  the  independence  of  the  former.  A 
preliminary  treaty  of  peace  was  effected,  and  a  definite 
treaty  was  ratified.  During  the  summer  of  1782  the  British 
troops  evacuated  Savannah,  others  left  Charleston  in  De 
cember,  but  they  held  the  city  of  New  York  almost  a  year 
longer. 

Washington  occupied  for  head-quarters  at  Newburgh  a 
quaint  stone  house,  built  in  1750  by  Jonathan  Hasbrouck, 
a  descendant  of  a  Huguenot  settler  in  that  region.  It  is 
perfectly  preserved,  it  having  been  bought  for  the  purpose 


214  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

by  the  State  of  New  York  many  years  ago,  and  placed 
under  the  care  of  the  municipal  authorities  of  Newburgh. 
The  interior  structure  of  the  house  is  quite  remarkable. 
The  largest  room  (which  Washington  used  as  a  public  audi 
ence  and  a  dining-room)  has  seven  doors  and  only  one  win 
dow.  The  fireplace  in  that  room  is  really  a  part  of  the 
apartment,  it  being  the  space  beneath  a  wide-mouthed  chim 
ney,  sufficiently  large  to  allow  a  small  bullock  to  be  roasted 
whole  within  it.* 

The  "  Hasbrouck  House  "  is  the  most  noted  of  any  of  the 
dwellings  used  by  Washington  as  head-quarters  at  vari 
ous  times,  for  here  he  and  Mrs.  Washington  dwelt  longer 
together  in  camp  than  elsewhere.  Connected  with  its  func 
tions  there  were  more  important  events  than  at  other  head 
quarters,  and  there  were  more  distinguished  persons  enter 
tained  there  by  the  commander-in-chief  and  his  wife  than 


*  Just  before  Lafayette's  death,  the  American  minister  in  Paris,  with 
several  of  his  countrymen,  were  invited  by  the  venerable  M.  Marbois 
(who  was  the  French  Secretary  of  Legation  in  the  United  States  under 
the  Chevalier  de  Luzerne)  to  dine  with  him.  Lafayette  was  among  the 
guests.  At  about  the  dinner  hour,  the  company  were  shown  into  a  room 
which  was  in  strong  contrast  with  the  other  elegant  apartments.  It  had 
the  appearance  of  a  large  room  in  a  Dutch  or  Belgian  farm-house.  On 
a  long,  rough  table  was  spread  a  repast  in  keeping  with  the  room.  There 
was  a  single  dish  of  meat,  uncouth-looking  pastry,  wine  in  bottles  and 
decanters,  accompanied  by  glasses  and  silver  goblets.  "  Do  you  know 
where  we  are  ?"  Marbois  asked  Lafayette  and  his  companions,  among 
whom  was  Col.  Nicholas  Fish.  The  marquis  looked  at  the  low  ceiling 
with  heavy  bare  beams,  and  the  rest  of  the  architecture,  and  after  a  brief 
pause  he  exclaimed,  "  Ah  !  the  seven  doors  and  one  window,  and  the  sil 
ver  goblets,  such  as  the  marshals  of  France  used  in  my  youth  !  We  are 
in  Washington's  head-quarters  on  the  Hudson  fifty  years  ago  !" 


MRS.  WASHINGTON    AT    NEWBURGH. 


215 


anywhere  else.  The  head-quarters  of  Generals  Greene  and 
Knox  were  three  or  four  miles  from  Newburgh,  where  the 
artillery  were  encamped. 

Mrs.  Washington  did  not  accompany  her  husband  on  his 
journey  from  Philadelphia  to  Newburgh,  but  followed  him 
soon  afterwards,  arriving  at  head-quarters  on  the  2oth  of 


WASHINGTON'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  NEWBURGH. 

April.  She  was  warmly  greeted  by  the  officers  and  their 
wives,  who  were  in  camp,  and  by  the  heads  of  families  in  the 
neighborhood,  who  had  known  her  at  New  Windsor.  Mrs. 
Knox  was  the  first  to  fly  to  the  embrace  of  her  good  friend 
and  to  give  her  a  kiss  of  welcome. 

Soon  after  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  she  was  a  delighted 
participant  in  a  grand  fete  given  at  West  Point  in  honor  of 
the  birth  of  the  dauphin  of  France,  the  first  son  of  Louis 
XVI.  and  Maria  Antoinette.  For  that  occasion  a  curious 
edifice — an  enormous  arbor — was  erected  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Major  Villefranche,  an  expert  French  engineer.  It 


2I6  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

was  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  length  and  eighty 
feet  in  width,  and  was  composed  of  the  materials  afforded 
by  the  trees  of  the  region.  It  was  supported  by  a  grand 
colonnade  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  pillars,  made  of  the 
trunks  of  trees.  The  covering  of  the  roof  consisted  of 
branches  of  evergreen-trees,  curiously  interwoven,  and  the 
same  materials  formed  the  walls,  leaving  the  ends  open.  On 
the  inside  every  pillar  was  encircled  by  muskets  with  fixed 
bayonets,  and  bound  with  wreaths  of  evergreens  and  flowers 
in  a  fanciful  manner.  The  whole  interior  was  beautifully 
decorated  with  festoons  and  garlands  of  flowers,  intermingled 
with  laurel,  spruce,  and  arbor-vitae  boughs.  There  were  also 
emblematical  devices  significant  of  the  alliance  between  the 
United  States  and  France.  Many  appropriate  mottoes  were 
seen  among  the  decorations. 

The  whole  army  was  paraded  on  the  occasion  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  in  full  view  of  West  Point.  They  stacked 
their  arms  at  a  signal  given  by  three  discharges  of  cannon, 
when  their  officers  repaired  to  the  Point  to  dine  with  the 
general  and  his  other  guests  in  the  great  arbor  just  de 
scribed.* 

There  was  a  notable  gathering  at  head-quarters  at  New- 
burgh  on  the  morning  of  May  31,  1782,  preparatory  to  a 

*  In  general  orders  issued  at  Newburgh  on  May  29th,  General  Wash 
ington  appended  the  following  memorandum  : 

"  The  Commander-in-chief  desires  his  compliments  may  be  presented 
to  the  Officers'  Ladies,  with  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  army,  togeth 
er  with  a  request  that  they  will  favor  him  with  their  company  at  dinner 
on  Thursday  next,  at  West  Point.  The  General  will  be  happy  to  see 
any  other  Ladies  of  his  own  or  his  friends'  acquaintance  on  the  occasion, 
without  the  formality  of  a  particular  invitation." 


ENTERTAINMENT   AT   WEST    POINT.  217 

voyage  thence  to  the  scene  of  the  grand  fete.  Among  those 
present  were  Gov.  George  Clinton  and  his  wife  and  suite, 
Generals  Knox  and  Hand  with  their  wives,  Egbert  Benson 
and  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Chancellor  Livingston  and  her  sis 
ter-in-law,  Mrs.  General  Montgomery.  These,  with  General 
Washington  and  his  wife,  went  down  the  river  in  barges 
gayly  decorated  with  flowers  and  laurel,  and  arrived  at  West 
Point  between  one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  A 
great  number  of  other  ladies  and  gentlemen  arrived  at  about 
the  same  time  in  land  vehicles  and  barges,  and  the  grand 
arbor  and  the  grounds  around  presented  a  gay  scene  on 
that  beautiful  May  day. 

The  dinner  was  ready  at  five  o'clock.  At  a  signal  of 
three  cannon  discharges  the  guests  repaired  to  the  arbor, 
which  was  protected  by  the  Lifeguard.  The  general  and 
his  wife  and  suite,  with  other  guests,  moved  from  General 
MacDougalPs  quarters  through  a  line  of  artillery,  while  mar 
tial  music  enlivened  the  scene.  More  than  five  hundred 
guests  partook  of  the  feast.  After  the  cloth  was  removed, 
thirteen  appropriate  toasts  were  drunk.  Each  was  an 
nounced  by  thirteen  discharges  of  cannon  and  bursts  of 
martial  music.  The  guests  retired  from  the  table  at  seven 
o'clock.  In  the  evening  the  arbor  was  brilliantly  illuminat 
ed  by  a  vast  number  of  candles,  tastefully  arranged.  It  was 
the  scene  of  a  gay  ball,  which  was  opened  by  Washington, 
with  Mrs.  Knox  as  his  partner.  A  grand  feu  de  joie  from 
musketry  and  cannon  was  fired  in  the  darkness  throughout 
the  whole  line  of  the  army  on  the  neighboring  hills.  This 
was  followed  by  shouts  of  "Long  live  the  Dauphin !"  by  the 
whole  army,  thrice  repeated.  The  celebration  was  ended 
by  a  grand  display  of  fireworks. 


2l8  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Mrs.  Washington  remained  at  head -quarters  until  near 
the  middle  of  July,  when  she  departed  with  a  proper  escort 
for  Mount  Vernon.  She  passed  happier  weeks  at  her  home 
than  she  had  at  any  time  during  the  war,  for  her  spirits  were 
buoyed  by  sure  prospects  of  peace  near  at  hand.  Yet  the 
precious  treasure  kept  receding  many  months  longer.  She 
did  not  return  to  head-quarters  until  late  in  November. 

The  French  troops  remained  in  Virginia,  after  the  capitu 
lation  at  Yorktown,  until  near  the  close  of  the  summer  of 
1782,  when  they  marched  for  the  Hudson  River,  and  on 
September  15111  joined  the  left  of  the  American  army  near 
Verplanck's  Point,  below  Peekskill.  To  that  neighborhood 
Washington  had  drawn  the  American  troops,  about  ten 
thousand  in  number.  There  the  French  army  remained 
about  a  month,  when  they  marched  to  Boston  and  embarked 
for  the  West  Indies.  The  American  troops  went  into  win 
ter-quarters  at  New  Windsor,  and  Washington  resumed  his 
residence  at  Newburgh,  where  he  and  Mrs.  Washington  soon 
afterwards  entertained  Rochambeau  and  his  suite  while  on 
their  way  from  Rhode  Island  to  Baltimore  to  embark  for 
France.  The  Marquis  de  Chastellux  reached  head  quarters 
a  day  before  the  arrival  of  Rochambeau.* 

*  "We  passed  the  North  river  as  night  came  on,"  wrote  the  Mar 
quis,  "and  arrived  at  six  o'clock  [December  5th]  at  Newburgh,  where 
I  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Washington,  Colonel  Humphreys,  Colonel  Tilgh- 
man,  and  Major  Walker."  After  describing  the  house,  he  continued  : 
' '  I  found  the  company  assembled  in  a  small  room  which  served  by  way 
of  parlour.  At  nine  supper  was  served,  and  when  the  hour  of  bedtime 
came,  I  found  that  the  chamber,  to  which  the  General  conducted  me,  was 
the  very  parlour  I  speak  of,  wherein  he  had  made  them  place  a  camp 
bed.  We  assembled  at  breakfast  the  next  morning  at  ten,  during  which 
interval  my  bed  was  folded  up,  and  my  chamber  became  my  sitting-room 


PATRIOTISM    OF    THE    TROOPS.  2IQ 

The  winter  after  the  French  troops  left  was  one  of  com 
parative  repose  from  military  duties  j  yet  it  was  a  trying  one 
in  Washington's  camp.  The  soldiers  and  their  families  were 
suffering  much  from  want  of  the  arrears  in  their  pay,  and 
great  discontent  prevailed.  Congress  seemed  utterly  un 
able  to  afford  relief,  and  in  March  a  mutinous  spirit  was 
manifested,  or  suggested.  This  was  inflamed  by  the  famous 
"  Newburgh  Address  ;"  but  the  wisdom,  prudence,  and  char 
acter  of  Washington  arrested  a  threatened  disaster,  and 
made  prominent  the  undying  patriotism  of  the  Continental 
troops.* 

for  the  whole  afternoon;  for  American  manners  do  not  admit  of  a  bed  in 
the  room  in  which  company  is  received,  especially  when  there  are  wom 
en.  The  smallness  of  the  house,  and  the  difficulty  to  which  I  saw  that 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Washington  had  put  themselves  to  receive  me,  made  me 
apprehensive  lest  Mr.  Rochambeau,  who  was  to  set  out  the  day  after  me, 
by  travelling  as  fast,  might  arrive  on  the  day  that  I  remained  there.  I 
resolved,  therefore,  to  send  to  Fish-kill  to  meet  him,  with  a  request  that 
he  would  stay  there  that  night.  Nor  was  my  precaution  superfluous, 
for  my  express  found  him  already  at  the  landing,  where  he  slept,  and 
did  not  join  us  till  the  next  morning,  as  I  was  setting  out.  The  day  I 
remained  at  head-quarters  was  passed  either  at  table  or  in  conversation." 
— "Travels,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  301. 

*  Anonymous  notifications  were  circulated  in  the  army  on  March  loth, 
requesting  a  general  meeting  of  the  officers  the  next  day  ;  and  at  about 
the  same  time  an  anonymous  address  to  the  officers,  clothed  in  terms  cal 
culated  to  greatly  inflame  the  prevailing  discontent,  was  also  clandestine 
ly  circulated.  Washington  at  once  summoned  a  general  meeting  of  the 
officers  himself  at  the  time  designated.  He  made  an  address  to  them 
and  then  left  their  presence,  that  they  might  deliberate  freely.  Not  only 
the  mischievous  effects  of  the  anonymous  address  were  counteracted, 
but  expressions  of  the  most  ardent  patriotism  were  embodied  in  resolu 
tions  that  were  adopted;  also  the  warmest  expressions  of  regard  for  the 
commander-in-chief. 


220  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

The  6th  of  February,  the  anniversary  of  the  alliance  with 
France,  was  celebrated  by  a  feu  de  joie  and  the  pardon  and 
release  of  all  military  prisoners.  Mrs.  Washington  wrote  to 
her  sister  (Mrs.  Bassett)  on  the  yth : 

•*  Yesterday  there  was  an  interesting  scene  at  Head-quar 
ters.  Over  fifty  soldiers,  thinly  clad,  and  with  pale  but 
happy  faces,  whom  the  General  had  pardoned  in  the  morn 
ing  for  various  crimes,  came  to  express  their  gratitude  for 
his  mercy  and  kindness  to  them.  They  had  come  in  a  body. 
One  of  them  was  spokesman  for  the  rest.  My  heart  was 
touched  and  my  eyes  were  filled  with  tears.  I  gave  the 
speaker  some  money  to  divide  among  them  all,  and  bade 
them  'go,  and  sin  no  more.'  The  poor  fellow  kissed  my 
hand  and  said,  *  God  bless  Lady  Washington  !'  Poor  fel 
lows  ! " 

The  negotiation  of  a  preliminary  treaty  of  peace  was  an 
nounced  to  Washington  late  in  March,*  and  a  few  weeks 
later  the  virtual  disbandment  of  the  army  began  by  granting 
furloughs  for  an  indefinite  time  to  a  large  part  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers.  On  the  i8th  of  October  following  Congress 
issued  a  proclamation  discharging  these  from  further  serv- 
ice.f 

*  Washington  immediately  sent  a  copy  of  the  despatches  from  the 
Secretary  of  Foreign  Affairs,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  to  Governor  Clinton, 
and  on  the  note  conveying  them  he  wrote  :  "  They  contain,  I  presume, 
all  the  intelligence  respecting  Peace,  on  which  great  and  glorious  event 
permit  me  to  congratulate  you  with  the  greatest  sincerity."  Upon  the 
envelope  bearing  the  superscription  Washington  wrote,  in  large  letters, 
with  a  broad  dash  under  it,  the  word  PEACE,  a  word  that  made  the 
whole  country  vocal  with  thanksgivings. 

f  In  June  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  was  formed,  composed  of  the 
officers  of  the  Continental  army.  Its  chief  object  was  the  perpetuation 


ILLNESS   AT    NEWBURGH.  221 

At  the  middle  of  July,  the  general,  in  company  with 
George  Clinton,  went  up  the  Hudson  River,  and  as  far  north 
as  Crown  Point  on  Lake  Champlain.  They  crossed  to  the 
Mohawk  valley  and  extended  their  journey  westward  to 
Fort  Schuyler,  near  Rome,  and  returned  to  Newburgh  on 
the  evening  of  August  5th.  The  general  found  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  very  ill  with  a  fever  which  had  seized  her  soon  after 
his  departure.  He  also  found  there  a  letter  from  the  Pres 
ident  of  Congress  then  sitting  at  Princeton,  in  New  Jersey, 
asking  his  attendance  upon  that  body  for  consultation  con 
cerning  arrangements  for  peace  and  other  public  matters. 
Mrs.  Washington  was  too  feeble  to  endure  a  journey  until 
late  in  the  month,  and  her  husband  would  not  leave  her. 
Congress  had  provided  and  suitably  furnished  a  house  for 
them  at  Rocky  Hill,  a  salubrious  position  between  three 
and  four  miles  from  Princeton,  at  which  they  arrived  on 
the  25th  of  August.  Washington  had  left  General  Knox  in 
charge  of  the  troops.  Before  his  arrival  Congress  had  voted 
that  an  equestrian  statue  of  him,  executed  in  bronze,  should 
be  erected  at  the  place  where  the  permanent  residence  of 
Congress  should  be  established.* 

and  occasional  renewal  of  the  long-cherished  friendship  and  social  in 
tercourse  which  had  existed  between  them.  The  idea  originated  with 
General  Knox.  It  was  warmly  approved  by  Washington.  It  consisted 
first  of  a  General  Society,  but  afterwards  State  societies  were  formed, 
bearing  a  sort  of  allegiance  to  the  General  Society.  Washington  was  ap 
pointed  the  first  president,  and  Knox  the  first  secretary.  The  society 
adopted  an  Order,  the  devices  of  which  indicate  the  origin  of  its  name. 
It  shows  Cincinnatus  receiving  the  honor  of  the  consulship  from  the 
Roman  Senate,  while  engaged  in  the  labors  of  husbandry. 

*  It  was  resolved  that  the  general  should  be  represented  in  a  Roman 
dress,  holding  a  truncheon  in  his  right  hand,  and  his  head  encircled  with 


222  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


WASHINGTON  S    HEAD-QUARTERS   AT    ROCKY    HILL. 

When  Mrs.  Washington  left  head-quarters  at  Newburgh, 
she  bade  a  final  adieu  to  the  turmoils  of  camp  life  in  which 
she  had  participated  much  of  the  time  for  nearly  eight  years, 

a  laurel  wreath.  Also  that  on  the  pedestal  of  marble  should  be  repre 
sented  in  low-relief  sculpture  the  five  great  military  events  of  the  war 
in  which  Washington  commanded  in  person;  namely,  The  Evacuation  of 
Boston,  the  Capture  of  the  Hessians  at  Trenton,  the  Battle  at  Princeton, 
the  Action  at  Monmouth,  and  the  Surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown. 
It  was  decreed  that  on  the  upper  part  of  the  pedestal  the  following 
words  should  be  engraved  :  THE  UNITED  STATES  IN  CONGRESS  AS 
SEMBLED  ORDERED  THIS  STATUE  TO  BE  ERECTED  IN  THE  YEAR  OF 

OUR  LORD  1783  IN  HONOR  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  THE  ILLUSTRI 
OUS  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
OF  AMERICA  DURING  THE  WAR  WHICH  VINDICATED  AND  SECURED 
THEIR  LIBERTY,  SOVEREIGNTY,  AND  INDEPENDENCE. 
This  statue  was  never  erected. 


GARDENING   AT    NEWBURGH.  223 

and  she  looked  forward  with  the  most  intense  satisfaction 
to  the  time  in  the  near  future  when  with  her  husband  and 
her  grand-children  she  would  enjoy  the  long-coveted  felicity 
of  quiet  domestic  life  in  retirement  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac.  Her  sojourn  at  head-quarters  from  time  to  time 
had  never  been  periods  of  idleness  and  unfruitfulness  of 
good;  on  the  contrary  she  was  ever  one  of  the  busiest  of 
women,  applying  incessant  industry  for  the  benefit  of  her 
household  or  for  others.  Her  abiding  sympathy  for,  and 
generous  deeds  in  behalf  of,  the  suffering  soldiers  so  en 
deared  her  to  the  army  that  the  veterans  in  their  old  age 
could  never  speak  of  her  without  emotions  that  brought 
forth  the  tear  of  gratitude.  Her  generosity  and  sympathy 
always  stimulated  their  loyalty. 

Mrs.  Washington  had  a  passion  for  gardening,  and  her 
summer  residence  at  Newburgh  allowed  her  to  indulge  it. 
On  the  slope  in  front  of  head-quarters  she  had  a  rich  gar 
den  of  vegetables  and  flowers  in  which  her  own  hands  were 
often  employed.  Mr.  Eager,  the  historian  of  Orange  Coun 
ty,  told  me  more  than  thirty  years  ago  that  he  remembered 
seeing:  rows  of  bricks  there  which  had  formed  the  borders 

O 

of  her  flower-beds. 

Washington  and  his  wife  remained  at  Rocky  Mount  until 
the  beginning  of  November,  1783,  when  the  latter  returned 
to  Mount  Vernon,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  two  years. 
They  had  experienced  much  social  enjoyment  with  the  re 
fined  inhabitants  of  Princeton,  a  college  town,  and  the  fam 
ilies  of  members  of  Congress,  many  of  whom  were  there. 
Mrs.  Washington  there  formed  ties  of  friendship  which  were 
never  broken  while  life  endured.  Meanwhile  she  was  in 
constant  correspondence  with  her  daughter-in-law,  who  with 


224  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

her  children  were  residing  at  Mount  Vernon.  The  letters 
of  the  latter,  always  dutiful  and  affectionate,  had  recently 
expressed  strong  desires  for  Mrs.  Washington's  return. 
There  was  a  deeper  meaning  in  these  expressions  than  their 
words  implied,  which  Lund  Washington  revealed  in  a  letter, 
by  saying  that  Dr.  David  Stuart,  of  Maryland,  was  a  fre 
quent  visitor  at  Mount  Vernon,  and  that  Mrs.  Custis  seemed 
to  be  much  attached  to  him.  The  general  and  his  wife 
were  somewhat  surprised,  as  the  widow  had  never  suggested 
such  feelings,  unless  her  earnestly  expressed  desire  for  Mrs. 
Washington's  return  might  be  construed  into  a  wish  that  she 
might  disclose  the  secret  to  her.  Washington  wrote  to  his 
kinsman,  on  behalf  of  Mrs.  Washington  and  himself,  saying, 
"  If  this  should  be  the  case,  and  she  wants  advice  upon 
it,  a  father  and  mother  [Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calvert],  who  are  at 
hand  and  competent  to  give  it,  are  at  the  same  time  the 
most  proper  to  be  consulted  in  so  interesting  an  event.  For 
my  own  part,  I  never  did,  nor  do  I  believe  I  ever  shall,  give 
advice  to  a  woman  who  is  setting  out  on  a  matrimonial  voy 
age  ;  first,  because  I  never  could  advise  one  to  marry  with 
out  her  own  consent ;  and,  secondly,  because  I  know  it  is  to 
no  purpose  to  advise  her  to  refrain,  when  she  has  obtained 
it.  A  woman  very  rarely  asks  an  opinion  or  requires  advice 
on  such  an  occasion  till  her  resolution  is  formed ;  and 
then  it  is  with  the  hope  and  expectation  of  obtaining  a  sanc 
tion — not  that  she  means  to  be  governed  by  your  disappro 
bation,  that  she  applies.  In  a  word,  the  plain  English  of 
the  application  may  be  summed  up  in  these  words  :  *  I  wish 
you  to  think  as  I  do ;  but,  unhappily  you  differ  from  me  in 
opinion,  my  heart,  I  must  confess,  is  fixed,  and  I  have  gone 
too  far  now  to  retract.' 


ON    MATRIMONIAL    MATTERS.  225 

"  If  Mrs.  Custis  should  ever  suggest  anything  of  this  kind 
to  me,  I  will  give  her  my  opinion  of  the  measure,  not  of  the 
man,  with  candor,  and  to  the  following  effect:  'I  never  ex 
pected  you  would  spend  the  rest  of  your  days  in  widowhood ; 
but  in  a  matter  so  important,  and  so  interesting  to  yourself, 
children,  and  connexions,  I  wish  you  would  make  a  prudent 
choice.  To  do  which,  many  considerations  are  necessary : 
such  as  the  family  connexions  of  the  man,  his  fortune  (which 
is  not  the  most  essential  in  my  eye),  the  line  of  conduct  he 
has  observed,  and  the  disposition  and  frame  of  his  mind. 
You  should  consider  what  prospect  there  is  of  his  proving 
kind  and  affectionate  to  you ;  just,  generous,  and  attentive 
to  your  children  ;  and  how  far  his  connexions  will  be  agree 
able  to  you;  for  when  they  are  once  formed,  agreeable  or 
not,  the  die  being  cast,  your  fate  is  fixed.'  " 

Not  long  after  this  letter  was  written,  Mrs.  Custis  and  Dr. 
Stuart  were  married.  The  doctor  proved  to  be  an  excellent 
husband,  and  was  a  friend  and  trusted  counsellor  of  Wash 
ington,  who  appointed  him  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
District  of  Columbia  when  he  was  President  of  the  United 
States. 

After  the  departure  of  Mrs.  Washington  for  home,  the 
general  went  to  West  Point.  Having  arranged  with  Sir  Guy 
Carleton,  the  British  commander-in-chief,  for  the  evacuation 
of  the  city  of  New  York  by  his  forces  on  the  25th  of  No 
vember,  he  accompanied  a  detachment  of  troops  from  West 
Point,  and  with  Governor  Clinton  entered  that  city  and 
took  possession  of  it  on  the  day  appointed,  when  the  Brit 
ons  had  departed  to  their  ships. 

On  the  4th  of  December  Washington  took  a  final,  affec 
tionate,  and  affecting  leave  of  his  officers,  who  were  with 


226  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

him  at  Fraunce's  Tavern  (yet  standing),  on  the  corner  of 
Broad  and  Pearl  streets,  in  New  York.  Leaving  the  room, 
he  walked  through  lines  of  light  infantry  a  short  distance 
to  the  landing  at  Whitehall,  where  a  barge  was  in  waiting  to 
convey  him  across  the  river  to  Paulus  Hook,  now  Jersey 
City.  The  company  of  friends  followed  him  to  the  place  of 
embarkation.  Having  entered  the  barge,  he  turned  to  his 
sorrowing  companions  and,  waving  his  hat,  bade  them  a 
silent  adieu. 

Congress  had  adjourned  from  Princeton  to  Annapolis,  in 
Maryland.  Thither  Washington  went  from  New  York,  mak 
ing  slow  journeys,  and  receiving  on  the  road  everywhere  the 
most  cordial  greetings,  in  testimony  of  the  reverence  and 
love  of  the  people.  Public  addresses  were  presented  to  him 
by  the  Legislatures  of  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Mary 
land  ;  also  by  societies  of  various  kinds.  Arriving  at  An 
napolis,  he  made  an  appointment  to  meet  the  Congress,  and 
resign  into  their  hands  the  commission  of  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Continental  armies,  which  he  had  received  from 
them  in  June,  1775.  Mrs.  Washington  had  ridden  from 
Mount  Vernon  to  Annapolis  in  the  family  chaise,  to  join 
her  husband  and  to  convey  him  home. 

It  was  at  noon  on  December  23,  1783,  that  Washington 
met  Congress  in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the  old  Maryland 
State  House  (yet  standing),  and  after  delivering  a  short 
speech  with  much  dignity  and  feeling,  handed  his  commis 
sion  to  General  Mifflin,  the  president  of  that  body,  who 
made  an  eloquent  response.  This  interesting  scene  was 
witnessed  by  Mrs.  Washington  and  other  ladies,  seated  in 
the  little  gallery  at  the  end  of  the  chamber.  The  general 
immediately  retired,  and,  after  dining  with  a  few  friends,  he 


RETURN  TO  MOUNT  VERNON.  227 

and  Mrs.  Washington  departed  in  their  chaise  drawn  by 
spirited  horses,  on  their  joyous  journey  homeward.  They 
were  accompanied  some  distance  on  the  way  by  Governor 
Paca  and  his  suite,  and  on  the  whole  journey  by  Colonels 
Walker,  Humphreys,  and  Smith,  and  the  ever-present  and 
ever-faithful  Billy.  This  escort  travelled  on  horseback. 

The  party  passed  the  night  at  an  inn  at  Queen  Anne, 
then  at  the  head  of  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Patuxent 
River,  and  at  dawn  the  next  morning  set  out  for  George 
town,  where  they  crossed  the  Potomac,  rode  on  to  Alexan 
dria,  and  then  partook  of  an  early  dinner.  Towards  evening 
they  reached  the  boundaries  of  the  Mount  Vernon  estate. 
They  soon  came  to  the  cottage  of  Thomas  Bishop,  an  hon 
ored  pensioner  of  the  master  of  Mount  Vernon,  a  venerable, 
white-haired  mulatto  over  fourscore  years  old,  who  had 
been  a  servant  to  General  Braddock,  and  entered  the  service 
of  Colonel  Washington  on  the  death  of  that  commander, 
nearly  thirty  years  before.*  Billy  had  ridden  forward  to  ap 
prise  the  old  man  of  the  approach  of  the  travellers,  and  as 
the  horses  of  the  chaise  were  reined  up  at  the  door  of  the 
cottage,  there  stood  the  veteran,  erect  as  a  pine,  and  dressed 
in  his  full  English  regimentals  which  he  wore  at  the  defeat 
of  Braddock!  Lifting  his  cocked  hat,  he  gave  the  whole 
party  a  graceful  military  salute.  Then  he  grasped  the  hand 
of  the  beloved  master,  and  kissed  that  of  the  equally  loved 
mistress,  while  his  really  pretty  daughter,  with  eyes  filled 
with  tears  of  gladness,  dropped  a  modest  courtesy. 

It  was  Christmas-eve,  at  sunset,  when  the  travellers  alight 
ed  at  the  western  door  of  the  mansion.  The  air  was  as 

*  See  page  95. 


228  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

balmy  as  in  May.  From  every  point  came  servants,  young 
and  old,  to  gaze  upon  the  joyous  scene.  The  military  at 
tendants  of  the  general  gave  their  bridles  to  willing  grooms, 
and  all  were  received  into  the  mansion  by  two  young  ladies 
and  their  mother,  residents  of  Fredericksburg,  who  had  been 
invited  to  spend  Christmas-day  there.  Most  happy  and  mer 
ry  was  that  Christmas-time  at  Mount  Vernon  in  1783. 

Christmas-eve  was  spent  most  joyfully  within  and  without 
the  mansion.  Until  nine  o'clock  the  men-servants  kept  up 
a.  feu  dejoie  with  guns  and  pistols,  and  made  the  air  musical 
with  fiddle  and  banjo,  and  all  of  them— men,  women,  and 
children — were  made  happy  by  an  abundance  of  spiced  me- 
theglin  and  cakes. 

The  young  officers  who  attended  the  general  and  his  wife 
as  a  guard  of  honor  and  as  guests  had  all  served  on  the 
staff  of  the  patriot.  None  of  them  was  past  thirty  years 
of  age,  and  all  were  accomplished  gentlemen.  Walker  af 
terwards  became  the  manager  of  the  Earl  of  Bute's  large  es 
tates  in  Central  New  York  ;  Humphreys  became  an  Amer 
ican  diplomatist  abroad  and  an  accomplished  poet ;  and 
Smith  was  John  Adams's  secretary  of  legation  in  London  in 
1785,  and  married  his  daughter. 

All  Christmas-day  the  near  neighbors  of  the  family  and 
friends  from  Alexandria  called  at  Mount  Vernon  to  welcome 
the  master  home,  and  congratulate  him  on  the  bright  pros 
pects  of  their  common  country  and  the  termination  of  his 
great  and  successful  labors.  The  servants  of  the  large  es 
tate,  dressed  in  their  best  attire,  were  the  earliest  callers. 
It  was  the  beginning  of  their  week  of  merriment  and  exemp 
tion  from  labor,  according  to  custom.  They  departed  each 
with  a  gift  from  the  mistress  and  a  heart  full  of  delight. 


CHRISTMAS    AT    MOUNT    VERNON.  229 

The  venerable  Bishop  and  his  daughter  came  in  a  wagon 
just  at  sunrise,  sure  of  finding  the  master  and  mistress  astir. 
They  were  the  first  to  give  the  master  a  respectful  salutation, 
and  to  receive  from  the  mistress  kind  words  and  the  most 
bountiful  dole  for  their  Christmas  dinner.  From  noon  un 
til  night  visitors  came  and  went,  some  returning  home  by 
the  light  of  the  young  moon,  then  in  its  first  quarter.  One 
of  the  young  ladies  from  Fredericksburg  (Miss  Lewis),  writ 
ing  to  a  friend  a  few  days  afterwards,  said, 

"  I  must  tell  you  what  a  charming  day  I  spent  at  Mount 
Vernon  with  Mama  and  Sally.  The  Gen'l  and  Madame 
came  home  on  Christmas  Eve,  and  such  a  racket  the  Serv 
ants  made,  for  they  were  glad  of  their  coming  !  Three 
handsome  young  Officers  came  with  them.  All  Christmas 
afternoon  people  came  to  pay  their  Respects  and  Duty. 
Among  them  were  stately  Dames  and  gay  young  Women. 
The  Gen'l  seemed  very  happy,  and  Mistress  Washington 
was  busy  from  Daybrake  making  everything  as  agreeable 
as  possible  for  Everybody. 

"  Among  the  most  notable  of  the  callers  was  Mr.  George 
Mason,  of  Gunston  Hall,  who  was  on  his  way  home  from 
Alexandria,  and  who  brought  a  charming  granddaughter 
with  him,  about  fourteen  years  old.  He  is  said  to  be  one  of 
the  greatest  Statesmen  and  wisest  Men  in  Virginia.  We  had 
heard  much  of  him,  and  were  delighted  to  look  in  his  Face, 
hear  him  speak,  and  take  his  Hand,  which  he  offered  in  a 
courtly  manner.  He  is  straight  in  Figure,  but  not  tall,  and 
has  a  grand  Head  and  clear  grey  Eyes.  He  has  few  white 
Hairs,  though  they  say  he  is  about  sixty  years  old.  I  have 
so  much  to  tell  you  about  this  Christmas,  I  must  leave  the 
rest  of  the  Story  until  I  can  speak  it  in  your  Ears." 


230  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

On  that  memorable  Christmas-eve,  Washington  laid  aside 
his  military  suit  and  assumed  the  garb  of  a  private  citizen. 
That  suit  of  clothes  he  carefully  preserved  during  the  re 
mainder  of  his  life  of  sixteen  years.  It  is  still  carefully  pre 
served,  in  almost  as  perfect  a  condition  as  when  it  was  laid 
away  at  Mount  Vernon,  in  a  glass  case  in  the  Smithsonian 
Institution  at  the  National  Capital.  The  coat  is  a  deep 
blue  in  color,  with  buff  facings  and  large,  plain,  gilt  buttons. 
The  waistcoat  and  breeches  are  made  of  the  same  cloth. 
Washington  laid  aside  his  war-sword  at  the  same  time.  It, 
too,  is  carefully  preserved  with  the  military  suit,  and  with  it 
the  "  crab-stick  "  which  Franklin  bequeathed  to  Washing 
ton,  and  which  is  alluded  to  in  the  concluding  chapter  of 
this  volume. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

WASHINGTON  wrote  his  first  letter,  after  his  retirement,  to 
his  friend  Governor  Clinton,  of  New  York,  in  which  he  said  : 

"  I  arrived  at  my  seat  the  day  before  Christmas,  having 
previously  divested  myself  of  my  official  character.  .  .  .  The 
scene  is  at  last  closed.  I  feel  myself  eased  of  a  load  of 
public  care.  I  hope  to  spend  the  remainder  of  my  days  in 
cultivating  the  affections  of  good  men  and  in  the  practice  of 
the  domestic  Virtues.  Permit  me  still  to  consider  you  in 
the  number  of  my  friends,  and  to  wish  you  every  felicity. 
Mrs.  Washington  joins  me  in  presenting  the  compliments  of 
the  season,  with  our  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Clinton  and  the 
family." 

Nature  seemed  to  sympathize  with  Washington  and  his 
wife  in  their  strong  desire  for  absolute  rest  and  repose  after 
the  extraordinary  fatigues  and  excitements  of  the  past  ten 
years.  The  spring-like  weather  on  their  return  was  at  once 
succeeded  by  intense  cold,  and  very  soon  Mount  Vernon 
became  completely  snow-bound.  Washington  wrote  to  La 
fayette  on  the  ist  of  February  (1784),  saying: 

"  On  the  eve  of  Christmas  I  entered  these  doors  an  older 
man  by  nine  years  than  when  I  left  them.  Since  that  pe 
riod  we  have  been  locked  up  in  frost  and  snow,  and  excluded 
from  all  kinds  of  intercourse." 

Informed  that  Lafayette  contemplated  a  visit  to  the  Unit- 


232  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ed  States  the  following  summer,  Mrs.  Washington  felt  a 
strong  desire  that  he  should  bring  his  wife  with  him,  and 
that  she  should  make  Mount  Vernon  her  home  while  she 
tarried  in  America.  Washington  wrote  to  the  marchioness, 
thanking  her  for  a  letter  she  had  written  to  Mrs.  Washing 
ton,  conveying  her  felicitations  on  their  retirement  to  private 
life,  and  inviting  her  to  visit  them  in  Paris. 

"  I  am  now  enjoying  domestic  life,"  Washington  wrote, 
"under  my  own  vine  and  my  own  fig-tree;  and  in  a  small 
Villa  with  the  implements  of  husbandry,  and  lambkins  about 
me,  I  expect  to  glide  gently  down  the  stream  of  life  till  I  am 
entombed  in  the  mansion  of  my  fathers. 

"  Mrs.  Washington  is  highly  honored  by  your  felicitations, 
and  feels  very  sensibly  the  force  of  your  polite  invitation  to 
Paris  ;  but  she  is  too  far  advanced  in  life,  and  is  too  much 
immersed  in  the  care  of  her  little  progeny,*  to  cross  the  At 
lantic.  This,  my  dear  Marchioness  (indulge  the  freedom), 
is  not  the  case  with  you.  You  have  youth  (and  if  you  should 
not  incline  to  bring  your  children,!  can  leave  them  with  all 
the  advantages  of  education),  and  must  have  the  curiosity  to 
see  the  country,  young,  rude,  and  uncultivated  as  it  is,  for 
the  liberties  of  which  your  husband  has  fought,  bled,  and 


*  The  four  young  children  of  her  deceased  son,  John  Parke  Custis — 
three  daughters  and  a  son.  These  were  Elizabeth  Parke,  Martha  Parke, 
Eleanor  Parke,  and  George  Washington  Parke  Custis.  The  two  latter 
children  were  those  whom  Washington  had  adopted  as  his  own.  The 
health  of  their  mother,  always  delicate,  caused  the  chief  care  of  these 
children  to  devolve  upon  Mrs.  Washington,  when  at  home,  or  upon  the 
wife  of  Lund  Washington  in  her  absence. 

f  She  had  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  The  former  was  named 
George  Washington,  and  the  latter  Virginie. 


THE  MARCHIONESS  LAFAYETTE.  233 

acquired  much  glory,  where  everybody  admires,  everybody 
loves  him.  Come,  then,  let  me  entreat  you,  and  call  my 
cottage  your  home  ;  for  your  own  doors  do  not  open  to  you 
with  more  readiness  than  mine  would.  You  will  see  the 
plain  manner  in  which  we  live,*  and  meet  with  rustic  civili 
ty  ;  and  you  shall  taste  the  simplicity  of  rural  life.  It  will 
diversify  the  scene,  and  give  you  a  higher  relish  for  the  gay- 
eties  of  the  court,  when  you  return  to  Versailles.  In  these 
wishes,  and  in  most  respectful  compliments,  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  joins  me." 

The  marchioness  did  not  accompany  her  husband,  who 
arrived  in  America  in  August,  reaching  Mount  Vernon  on 
the  i ;th  and  remaining  there  twelve  days. 

Late  in  November  Washington  again  wrote  to  the  mar 
chioness  by  the  hand  of  her  husband :  "  I  have  obtained  a 
promise  which  the  Marquis  has  ratified  to  Mrs.  Washington 
that  he  will  use  his  influence  to  bring  you  with  him  to  this 
country  whenever  he  shall  visit  it  again.  When  the  weight 
of  so  powerful  an  advocate  is  on  our  side,  will  you,  my  dear 
Marchioness,  deny  us  the  pleasure  of  your  accompanying 
him  to  the  shores  of  Columbia?  In  offering  our  mite,  we 
can  only  assure  you,  that  endeavor  shall  not  be  wanting,  on 
our  part,  to  make  this  new  world  as  agreeable  to  you  as  rural 
scenes  and  peaceful  retirement  are  competent  to." 

Accompanying  this  letter  was  a  brief  note  addressed  by 
Washington  to  Virginie,  the  daughter  of  the  marchioness, 
in  which  he  said  :  "  Your  Papa  will  carry  a  kiss  for  you  from 

*  Washington  wrote  to  a  friend  :  "  My  manner  of  living  is  plain,  and 
I  do  not  mean  to  be  put  out  by  it.  A  glass  of  wine  and  a  bit  of  mutton 
are  always  ready,  and  such  as  will  be  content  to  partake  of  them  are 
always  welcome.  Those  who  expect  more  will  be  disappointed." 


234  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

me,  which  might  be  more  acceptable  from  a  pretty  boy." 
Though  afterwards  urged  to  come  to  Mount  Vernon,  the 
marchioness  never  ventured  across  the  Atlantic. 

Washington  called  the  house  at  Mount  Vernon  a  "villa" 
and  a  "cottage."  It  was  indeed  a  "cottage,"  as  described 
on  page  35,  and  was  only  about  one-third  the  size  of  the 
present  mansion. 

The  master  and  mistress  of  Mount  Vernon  very  soon  dis 
covered  that  their  roseate  clream  of  quietude  and  simplicity 
of  life  which  they  coveted  was  not  to  be  realized.  Washing 
ton  was  the  central  figure  of  the  group  of  great  men  who 
had  laid  the  foundations  of  the  young  Republic.  The  eyes 
of  the  nation  were  speedily  turned  towards  him  for  counsel 
and  action,  for  it  was  soon  found  that  the  ship  of  state  was 
embarked  upon  a  perilous  voyage.  He  was  too  great  a  man 
to  remain  an  isolated  citizen,  and  men  of  every  degree— his 
own  countrymen  and  strangers,  soldiers  and  civilians — were 
soon  seen  upon  pilgrimages  to  Mount  Vernon ;  and  the  little 
"  villa  "  was  too  small  to  shelter  in  comfort  the  many  guests 
that  often  assembled  under  its  roof. 

Yielding  to  the  inevitable,  the  general  and  Mrs.  Washing 
ton,  who  had  entirely  underrated  the  importance  of  their 
position,  sat  down  and  planned  an  enlargement  of  their 
dwelling  to  dimensions  which  would  allow  them  to  exercise 
a  generous  hospitality  so  congenial  to  their  feelings.  Every 
arrangement  of  the  new  house  was  planned,  primarily,  for 
convenience  and  durability.  Washington  was  his  own  ar 
chitect.  He  drew  every  plan  and  specification  for  the  build 
ers,  but  invariably  submitted  his  suggestions  as  to  the  size 
and  relative  position  of  each  room  and  closet  to  the  judg 
ment  of  Mrs.  Washington.  The  house  was  to  be  her  rea.lm, 


MANSION   AT    MOUNT   VERNON. 


235 


over  which  she  was  to  reign  as  queen.  He  calculated  and 
indicated  every  measurement  with  exactness ;  ascertained 
the  cost  and  defined  the  quality  of  all  materials  to  be  used, 
before  purchasing,  and  superintended  the  building  in  per 
son  with  the  greatest  vigilance.  The  result  was  the  produc 
tion  of  the  spacious  mansion  at  Mount  Vernon  as  it  appears 
to-day. 

The  old  building  was  not  disturbed  until  the  extensions, 
which  were  made  at  each  end  of  it,  were  completed,  when  it 


MANSION  AT   MOUNT  VERNON. 


was  modified.  The  whole  structure  is  of  the  most  substan 
tial  framework.  It  has  now  (1886)  stood  in  its  present  form 
a  century,  and  exhibits  few  signs  of  decay,  though  long  neg 
lected  in  intermediate  years.  It  is  two  stories  in  height, 
ninety-six  feet  in  length,  thirty  feet  in  depth,  with  a  covered 
piazza  or  colonnade  twelve  feet  wide  extending  along  the 


236  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

entire  eastern  or  river  front,  and  supported  by  eight  square 
columns  twenty-five  feet  in  height. 

Over  this  piazza  is  a  balustrade  of  a  light  and  pleasing 
design,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  roof  is  an  observatory,  or 
cupola,  octagonal  in  form,  with  a  small  spire.  There  are 
seven  dormer-windows  in  the  roof — three  on  the  eastern 
side,  one  on  each  end,  and  two  on  the  western  or  lawn  side. 

There  is  a  spacious  passage  on  the  ground-floor  extend 
ing  through  the  building  from  east  to  west,  from  which  a 
massive  staircase  leads  to  the  second  story.  On  the  lower 
floor  are  six  rooms.  These  and  the  passage  are  all  wain 
scoted,  and  have  large  cornices,  giving  an  appearance  of 
great  solidity  to  the  whole.  On  the  south  side  of  the  pas 
sage  are  the  parlor,  breakfast-room,  and  library,  and  a  narrow 
staircase  leading  to  a  private  study  on  the  second  floor  and 
to  several  chambers.  On  the  north  side  of  the  passage  are 
a  reception-room  and  parlor  and  a  large  drawing-room. 
When  there  was  much  company  the  latter  was  sometimes 
used  as  a  dining-room.  The  garret  was  made  a  large  dor 
mitory  on  special  occasions. 

On  each  side  of  the  mansion  and  about  forty  feet  from  it 
are  substantial  buildings — one  erected  for  a  kitchen,  the 
other  for  a  storehouse  and  laundry.  They  are  connected 
with  the  mansion  by  gracefully  curved  colonnades,  which 
are  paved  and  roofed.  There  were  also  two  other  buildings, 
used  for  house-servants'  quarters.  The  flag-stones  for  the 
large  and  smaller  colonnades  were  imported  from  Ostend. 
A  house-joiner  and  bricklayer  were  procured  in  England  to 
do  the  work,  and  all  the  tools  used  were  imported.  The 
buildings,  constructed  a  century  ago,  are  well  preserved. 

The  enlarged  mansion  at  Mount  Vernon  was  completed 


GROUNDS    AT    MOUNT    VERNON.  237 

at  the  close  of  1785,  and  it  was  made  the  scene  of  a  joyous 
"  house-warming "  on  Christmas-eve,  in  which  friends  and 
neighbors,  old  and  young,  participated.  From  that  time 
Mount  Vernon  was  seldom  without  a  guest  while  Washing 
ton  and  his  family  occupied  it.  As  the  master  was  absent 
much  of  the  time  on  public  business,  the  administering  of 
the  hospitalities  of  the  house  devolved  chiefly  upon  Mrs. 
Washington.  Her  cordial  greetings,  her  easy  and  simple 
grace  of  manner,  and  her  unclouded  cheerfulness  charmed 
every  guest,  and  the  visit  ever  remained  a  vivid  and  sweet 
picture  on  the  memory. 

The  grounds  around  the  house  were  symmetrically  laid 
out,  and  beautified  in  accordance  with  a  carefully  drawn  plan 
and  specifications  made  by  Washington.  In  the  rear  of  the 
mansion  he  fashioned  a  spacious  lawn  upon  a  level  surface, 
comprising  about  twenty  acres.  Around  the  lawn  he  made 
a  serpentine  carriage-way,  on  each  side  of  which  he  plant 
ed  a  great  variety  of  shade-trees.  On  one  side  of  the 
lawn  he  made  spacious  flower-gardens  ;  on  the  other  side 
of  the  lawn  he  planted  an  equally  spacious  vegetable-gar 
den.  In  each  of  these  gardens  he  built  a  small  house,  oc 
tagonal  in  form,  for  the  storage  of  seeds  and  implements  of 
horticulture.  Massive  brick  walls  were  constructed  around 
both  gardens.  Directly  in  front  of  the  mansion  was  a  large 
oval  grass-plot,  with  a  dial  in  its  centre.  The  name  and 
position  of  every  tree  along  the  serpentine  carriage-way,  and 
the  measurements  of  distances  between  various  objects,  were 
indicated  by  Washington  in  carefully  prepared  diagrams  or 
in  writing.  Quite  a  large  number  of  the  trees  then  planted 
by  Washington  are  yet  growing.  The  form  and  general  ar 
rangement  of  the  grounds  are  the  same  to-day  as  they  were 


238 


MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


at  the  death  of  Mrs.  Washington  in  1802.     The  accompany 
ing  diagram,  reduced  from  Washington's  original  drawing, 


DIAGRAM    OF   GROUNDS    AND    BUILDINGS. 

A,  The  mansion ;  B,  Oval  grass-plot ;  C,  The  lawn  ;  D  D,  Flower-gardens ;  E  E, 
Vegetable-gardens ;  F  F,  Kitchen  and  laundry ;  G  G,  House-servants'  quarters ; 
H  H,  Curved  colonnades ;  I  I,  Water-closets  ;  J  J,  Seed-houses  ;  K,  Carriage-way ; 
L,  Outside  road. 

indicates  the  position  of  the  buildings,  the  trees,  and  the 
form  of  the  lawn.* 


*  Not  long  before   the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War  in  the 
United  States,  successful  efforts  were  made  by  the  women  of  our  coun- 


LAFAYETTE  AT  MOUNT  VERNON.  239 

The  visit  of  Lafayette  late  in  the  summer  of  1784  was  a 
source  of  exquisite  pleasure  to  the  master  and  mistress  of 
Mount  Vernon,  and  the  friendship  then  warmly  renewed 
was  continued  between  the  two  families  until  death  inter 
vened.  Mrs.  Washington  and  the  marchioness  kept  up  a 
friendly  correspondence,  and  tokens  of  kindly  esteem  passed 
between  the  grandchildren  of  the  former  and  the  children  of 
the  latter.  Finally,  when  the  fierce  tempest  of  revolution 
in  France  swept  Lafayette  into  an  Austrian  prison,  his  son, 
George  Washington,  found  an  asylum  and  tender,  motherly 
care  at  Mount  Vernon,  while  his  own  mother  and  his  sisters 
were  sharing  with  his  father  the  gloomy  prison  at  Olmiitz. 

Soon  after  Lafayette's  return  home  after  his  visit  in 
America  he  sent  as  a  present  to  Washington  a  pack  of 
French  stag-hounds,  not  doubting  the  general  would  resume 
his  favorite  amusement  of  the  chase  in  his  retirement. 
Though  grateful  for  the  kind  act  of  his  friend,  Washington 
did  not  feel  specially  thankful  for  the  dogs.  His  hunting 
establishment  had  been  broken  up  during  the  war.  His 

try  to  purchase  Mount  Vernon,  the  domain  to  embrace  the  mansion  and 
its  appurtenances  with  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  For  this  purpose 
"The  Mount  Vernon  Ladies  Association  "  was  incorporated.  Miss  Ann 
Pamela  Cunningham  was  constituted  "Regent,"  or  president  for  life, 
with  a  vice-regent  in  every  State  for  the  management  of  the  property. 
The  amount  of  the  purchase-money  ($200,000)  was  raised  by  subscrip 
tion.  The  property  belongs  to  the  women  of  the  United  States.  A 
superintendent  is  employed  to  manage  the  estate.  The  buildings  have 
been  renovated,  and  are  kept  in  the  condition  in  which  the  family  of 
Washington  left  them  at  the  beginning  of  this  century.  The  mansion 
and  grounds  are  open  to  visitors  on  the  payment  of  a  moderate  fee. 
The  money  so  received  is  devoted  to  the  payment  of  current  expenses 
and  necessary  repairs. 


240  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

hounds  were  dead,  or  had  become  too  old  for  service  on  his 
return.  He  had  some  of  the  survivors  for  two  or  three 
years  afterwards.  A  few  months  after  the  arrival  of  the 
French  hounds  he  broke  up  his  kennel,  sold  the  dogs,  and 
arranged  and  stocked  a  beautiful  deer-park  on  the  slopes 
near  where  the  "  new  tomb  "  (so  called)  of  Washington  may 
now  be  seen. 

Mrs.  Washington  rejoiced  at  this  change,  for  the  French 
hounds  had  annoyed  her  very  much.  They  were  very  large 
and  very  aggressive  dogs,  especially  Vulcan,  who  sometimes 
depredated  in  the  kitchen.  On  one  occasion  he  specially 
offended  the  mistress  of  the  mansion.  There  were  several 
guests  at  table.  She  observed  that  a  ham— "the  pride  of 
any  Virginia  housewife's  table  " — was  not  in  its  accustomed 
place.  On  inquiring,  it  was  ascertained  that  Vulcan  had 
entered  the  kitchen,  seized  the  savory  meat  with  his  fangs, 
and  in  spite  of  tongs  and  pokers  wielded  by  the  kitchen  de 
fenders,  had  carried  it  to  his  kennel.  Washington  good- 
naturedly  revealed  the  situation  to  the  guests,  and  all 
laughed  heartily  at  the  exploit  of  the  hound,  excepting  Mrs. 
Washington.  "  My  grandmother,"  said  Mr.  Custis,  who  re 
lated  the  story,  "uttered  some  remarks  by  no  means  favor 
able  to  old  Vulcan,  and  indeed  to  dogs  in  general.  I  loved 
the  old  hound,  for  I  used  to  ride  upon  his  back." 

At  about  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  hounds  at 
Mount  Vernon,  a  present  came  from  London  far  more 
precious  in  the  estimation  of  Mrs.  Washington.  It  was  an 
elegant  chimney-piece,  wrought  from  white  and  Sienite  mar 
ble,*  and  presented  by  Samuel  Vaughan,  a  wealthy  resi- 

*  This  work  of  art,  which  still  adorns  the  drawing-room,  was  exqui 
sitely  wrought  in  every  part.  Upon  three  tablets  of  the  prize,  under  the 


FIREPLACE   AT    MOUNT   VERNON.  241 

dent  of  the  British  metropolis,  who  had  conceived  a  pas 
sionate  admiration  for  the  character  of  Washington.    At  the 


ITALIAN   CHIMNEY-PIECE. 


time  of  its  arrival  at  London,  Mr.  Vaughan  had  heard  of 
the  improvements  in  progress  at  Mount  Vernon,  and  with- 

highly  ornamented  mantle,  are  sculptured,  in  very  high-relief,  in  white 
marble,  pleasant  domestic  scenes  in  agricultural  life.  The  centre  tablet 
is  the  largest,  and  on  it  is  a  representation  of  a  husbandman  and  his 
wife  and  child  returning  from  the  field  at  evening,  driving  a  cow  and  a 
flock  of  sheep.  On  the  left  of  the  central  is  the  representation  of  a  boy 
having  a  span  of  horses  to  be  attached  to  a  plough  ;  and  on  the  right  is 
a  cottage.  The  wife  and  mother  is  drawing  water  from  a  well,  and 
pouring  it  into  a  tub  for  the  purpose  of  cleansing  vegetables  which  are 
lying  near.  Her  little  girl  has  an  apronful,  and  is  eating  a  turnip. 

16 


242  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

out  unpacking  it,  he  sent  the  chimney-piece  to  the  "  cottage  " 
on  the  Potomac.     With  it  he  sent  beautiful  porcelain  vases 


TABLET  ON  THE  LEFT. 


CENTRE  TABLET. 


TABLET  ON  THE  RIGHT. 


made  in  India  and  decorated  in  London  ;  also  two  bronze 
candelabra,  the  whole  to  ornament  the  mantle  of  the  chim- 


LEAR,  SECRETARY   AND    COMPANION.  243 

ney-piece.  At  the  time  of  their  arrival  the  plasterers  were 
at  work  decorating  the  ceiling  of  the  drawing-room.  Around 
the  modest  fireplace  in  that  room  the  costly  and  elegant 
chimney-piece  was  placed,  and  until  this  clay  has  excited 
the  admiration  of  the  beholder. 

Washington  found  his  time  so  much  occupied  by  his 
guests,  and  his  correspondence,  which  he  vainly  supposed 
would  diminish,  so  constantly  increasing,  that  he  was  com 
pelled  to  employ  a  secretary.  Tobias  Lear,  a  young  gen 
tleman  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College,  was  engaged  in  that  capacity.  He  was  also  em 
ployed  as  tutor  to  the  Custis  children,  and  was  received 
into  the  family  most  kindly.  "He  will  sit  at  my  table," 
Washington  wrote  to  General  Lincoln,  who  had  recommend 
ed  Mr.  Lear,  "  will  live  as  I  live,  will  mix  with  company 
who  visit  the  house,  and  will  be  treated  in  every  respect 
with  civility  and  proper  attention."  Mr.  Lear  remained  the 
private  secretary  of  Washington  most  of  the  time  until  the 
death  of  the  latter.  He  married,  and  he  lost  his  wife  at 
Mount  Vernon.  He  was  so  much  beloved  by  the  general 
and  his  wife,  that  the  former  by  his  will  secured  to  Mr. 
Lear  the  use  of  a  farm,  free  of  rent,  so  long  as  he  should 
live.  He  was  a  great  comfort  and  assistance  to  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  in  the  absence  of  the  general,  and  he  was  with  her 
at  the  moment  when  the  spirit  of  her  husband  departed.* 

*  The  entertainment  of  guests  soon  became  so  burdensome  to  Mrs. 
Washington,  who  would  leave  nothing  of  importance  to  the  discretion  of 
servants,  that  her  husband  wrote  to  Samuel  Fraunce,  a  former  tavern- 
keeper  in  New  York,  to  procure  for  him  a  trustworthy  steward  for  the 
household.  "I  would  rather  have  a  man  than  a  woman,"  he  wrote, 
"  but  either  will  do,  if  they  can  be  recommended  for  honesty,  sobriety, 


244  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

I  will  not  attempt  to  delineate  in  detail  the  features  of 
life  at  Mount  Vernon  from  the  time  when  the  present  man 
sion  was  finished  until  the  departure  from  it  of  its  inmates 
in  the  spring  of  1789,  the  master  to  assume  the  exalted  du 
ties  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  the  mistress  to 
reign  as  sovereign  of  the  presidential  mansion  and  to  as 
sume  the  position  of  "The  First  Lacly  in  the  Republic." 
That  life  was  the  reverse  of  quiet  and  repose,  yet  Mrs. 
Washington,  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  maternal  love, 
enjoyed  an  abundance  of  delight  in  the  society  of  her  bright 
and  blooming  grandchildren ;  for  the  two  elder  ones,  Eliza 
beth  Parke  and  Martha  Parke  Custis,  were  also  at  Mount 
Vernon  a  large  portion  of  the  time  until  they  grew  to  young 
womanhood.  The  training  and  the  love  of  the  four  grand 
children  gave  Mrs.  Washington  far  more  exquisite  pleasure 
than  she  derived  from  the  charming  society  with  which  she 
was  brought  in  contact  almost  daily  in  New  York  and  Phil 
adelphia. 

The  exigencies  of  public  affairs  brought  to  Mount  Vernon 
some  of  the  wisest  and  best  men  to  confer  with  Washington, 
and  these  persons  formed  a  large  portion  of  the  guests  for 
many  months.  The  Articles  of  Confederation,  which  were 
adopted  as  the  constitution  of  a  national  government,  were 
found  to  be  as  weak,  as  a  bond  of  union  for  the  States,  as 

and  knowledge  in  their  profession,  which  is  in  one  word  to  relieve  Mrs. 
Washington  of  the  drudgery  of  ordering  and  seeing  the  table  properly 
covered,  and  things  economically  used.  ...  The  wages  I  now  give  to  a 
man  who  is  about  to  leave  me  to  get  married  (under  which  circumstances 
he  would  not  suit  me)  is  about  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum  ;  but  for 
one  who  understands  the  business  perfectly,  and  stands  fair  in  all  other 
respects,  I  would  go  as  far  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 


AN    ARTIST   AT    MOUNT    VERNON.  245 

a  rope  of  sand.  It  was  at  Mount  Vernon  that  the  prelimi 
nary  measures  which  led  to  repudiation  of  the  Articles  and 
the  formation  of  our  National  Constitution  were  conceived, 
fostered,  and  finally  put  into  active  and  efficient  operation. 

From  time  to  time  many  persons  from  beyond  the  sea, 
distinguished  in  art,  letters,  and  politics,  made  pilgrimages 
to  Mount  Vernon,  and  experienced  the  most  generous  hos 
pitality  there.  In  May,  1785,  Robert  Edge  Pine,  a  popular 
portrait-painter  from  England  and  a  pupil  of  Sir  Joshua 
Reynolds,  was  domiciled  at  Mount  Vernon  about  three  weeks. 
His  visit  was  a  professional  one.  He  had  come  to  Ameri 
ca  for  the  purpose  of  painting  the  portraits  of  men  distin 
guished  in  the  war  for  independence,  to  be  used  in  the  com 
position  of  a  series  of  historical  pictures  which  he  had 
projected.  Pine  was  very  small  in  stature.  He  brought 
with  him  his  wife  and  daughters,  who  were  as  small  as  he. 
They  resided  in  Philadelphia.  Pine  bore  to  Washington  a 
letter  of  introduction  from  Francis  Hopkinson,  and  was  re 
ceived  by  the  general  and  Mrs.  Washington  very  cordially. 

Besides  the  portrait  of  Washington,  Pine  painted,  while 
at  Mount  Vernon,  the  portraits  of  two  of  Mrs.  Washington's 
grandchildren.  These  were  Elizabeth  Parke  (who  married 
Mr.  Law)  and  George  Washington  Parke  Custis.  Elizabeth 
was  then  about  nine  years  of  age,  and  her  brother  was  be 
tween  four  and  five  years  old.  She  is  represented  as  a 
beautiful  girl,  with  a  profusion  of  rich  brown  curls,  her  bos 
om  covered  with  light  drapery,  and  a  miniature  of  her  fa 
ther  suspended  by  a  ribbon  around  her  neck,  lying  upon  it. 
Her  brother  is  represented  as  a  fair-haired  child,  clad  in 
loose  summer  raiment,  and  carrying  in  his  hand  a  branch 
with  a  few  leaves  upon  it.  These  pictures  were  exquisitely 


MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


ELIZABETH    PARKE 
CUSTIS. 


painted  in  colors  that  retain  their  original  vividness.  Pine's 
scheme  was  never  carried  out.  He  died  about  four  years 
after  his  visit  at  Mount  Vernon. 

A  few  months  after  the  departure  of  Pine,  M.  Houdon,  a 
distinguished  French  portrait -sculptor,  arrived  at  Mount 
Vernon  and  spent  a  fortnight  there.  He 
had  been  commissioned  by  the  Common 
wealth  of  Virginia  to  make  a  full-length, 
life-size  statue  of  Washing 
ton  in  proper  costume.  He 
made  a  plaster  cast  of  the 
face  only  of  the  great  pa 
triot  and  hero,  into  which 
plastic  clay  was  pressed,  and 
formed  a  perfect  model.  To 
this  the  artist  modelled  the  rest  of  the  head, 
the  neck,  and  the  breast,  creating  a  perfect 
copy  of  a  bust.  From  this  model  a  plaster  cast  of  the  bust 
was  made,  which  Houdon  took  with  him  to  France.  The 
original  clay  bust  he  presented  to  Mrs.  Washington,  and  it 
has  remained  at  Mount  Vernon  until  now.  Only  once  be 
fore  had  Washington  submitted  to  the  unpleasant  operation 
of  having  a  cast  taken  from  his  face.*  It  was  never  done 
afterwards,  either  during  his  life  or  after  his  death. 

*  We  have  observed  that  Congress  resolved  to  erect  an  equestrian 
statue  of  Washington.  Joseph  Wright,  a  young  artist,  who  bore  a  letter 
of  introduction  to  Washington  from  Dr.  Franklin,  arrived  at  head-quar 
ters  at  Rocky  Hill,  and  gained  permission  to  paint  a  portrait  of  the  gen 
eral.  He  was  also  somewhat  expert  in  taking  plaster  casts  from  the  liv 
ing  face,  and  some  members  of  Congress  being  desirous  of  having  a  cast 
of  that  of  Washington  for  the  use  of  the  sculptor  in  Europe  who  was  to 


G.  W.    P.   CUSTIS,  AGED 
17    YEARS. 


HOUDON    AND    MRS.  GRAHAM.  247 

Houdon  took  exact  measurements  of  Washington's  per 
son,  and  executed  the  statue  of  the  finest  Italian  marble.  It 
stands  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Virginia  State-house,  at  Rich 
mond.  It  is  confessedly  the  best  likeness  of  the  face,  per 
son,  and  costume  of  Washington  ever  made.  The  modern 
dress  instead  of  the  antique  was  suggested  to  Houdon  by 
Benjamin  West,  while  the  former  was  in  London  on  his  way 
to  America. 

A  most  interesting  guest  at  Mount  Vernon  in  1786  was 
Mrs.  Catherine  Macaulay  Graham,  who  won  the  esteem  and 
even  affection  of  Mrs.  Washington,  because  of  her  modest 
and  beautiful  character,  and  her  earnest  republicanism. 
She  was  an  English  literary  lady,  then  well  known  in  the 
realm  of  letters  by  her  "  History  of  England  "  and  several 
political  pamphlets.  Her  republican  proclivities,  strongly 
manifested  in  her  writings,  made  her  unpopular  with  the 
Tories  and  incurred  their  severe  criticisms.  Dr.  Johnson 
boasted  that  he  had  grossly  insulted  her  while  on  a  visit  at 
her  house  because  she  was  a  Whig !  Macaulay  of  our  day 
wrote  disparagingly  of  her  history,  while  Horace  Walpole 
placed  her  above  Hume.  President  Washington  wrote  to 
her  from  New  York  in  January,  1790,  saying, 

"  Mrs.  Washington  is  well  and  desires  her  compliments 


make  the  bronze  statue,  persuaded  the  general  to  allow  young  Wright  to 
make  a  cast  of  his  face.  Inexperienced,  the  artist  made  the  operation  a 
most  disagreeable  one,  and  Wright,  anxious  to  relieve  the  sufferer,  he 
hastily  and  in  great  trepidation  removed  the  plaster  as  soon  as  it  was 
sufficiently  hardened.  In  so  doing  he  let  it  fall  upon  the  floor,  when  it 
was  dashed  in  pieces.  Washington  refused  to  undergo  the  operation  a 
second  time.  It  was  with  reluctance  that  he  consented  to  allow  Hou 
don  to  take  a  cast  of  his  face.  But  he  trusted  the  experience  of  Houdon. 


248  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

may  be  presented  to  you.  We  wish  you  the  happiness  of 
your  fireside,  as  we  also  long  to  enjoy  that  of  our  own  at 
Mount  Vernon.  Our  wishes,  you  know,  were  limited,  and 
I  think  that  our  plan  of  living  will  now  be  deemed  reason 
able,  by  the  considerate  part  of  our  species.  Her  wishes 
coincide  with  my  own,  as  to  simplicity  of  dress,  and  every 
thing  which  combine  to  support  propriety  of  character, 
without  partaking  of  the  follies  of  luxury  and  ostentation." 
Late  in  the  summer  of  1787  Mr.  Vaughan,  the  London 
gentleman  who  sent  the  elegant  chimney-piece  to  Mount 
Vernon,  came  to  America,  his  chief  errand  being  to  visit 
.Washington  and  his  family  in  their  retirement.  He  was  dis 
appointed,  in  part.  He  found  Washington  in  Philadelphia, 
presiding  over  the  convention  that  formed  the  National  Con 
stitution.  After  many  pleasant  interviews,  Washington  in 
vited  Mr.  Vaughan  to  go  to  Mount  Vernon  and  visit  Mrs. 
Washington.  He  did  so,  bearing  a  letter  of  introduction 
from  her  husband,  who  could  not  leave  the  convention. 
Mrs.  Washington  received  the  guest  with  great  cordiality, 
and  he  remained  at  Mount  Vernon  several  days,  delighted 
with  the  mistress,  the  mansion,  its  situation,  and  its  surround 
ings.  When  he  left  in  September  he  bore  away  with  him  a 
plan  of  the  mansion  and  its  grounds.  Returning  to  Phila 
delphia,  he  departed  thence  for  home. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

LAFAYETTE,  regarding  Washington  with  profound  rever 
ence  as  a  man,  a  soldier,  a  statesman,  a  hero,  and  a  sage, 
and  Mrs.  Washington  with  scarcely  less  reverence  as  the 
ideal  of  a  true  woman,  a  charming  matron,  and  an  exemplar 
in  every  relation  in  life,  earnestly  desired  that  his  friends 
who  visited  America  should  make  a  pilgrimage  to  Mount 
Vernon,  and  pay  homage  to  the  greatness  and  the  virtues 
enshrined  there.  He  gave  to  many  friends  letters  of  intro 
duction  to  the  Washington  family. 

Among  the  distinguished  guests  at  Mount  Vernon  intro 
duced  by  the  marquis  were  the  Count  de  Moustier,  the 
French  minister  (successor  of  Luzerne),  his  sister  the  Mar 
chioness  de  Brienne,  her  son,  and  M.  Dupont,  who  arrived 
there  in  the  autumn  of  1788,  just  after  the  accomplished 
Colonel  Humphreys  had  become  a  member  of  the  Washing 
ton  family.  These  guests  had  made  quite  an  extensive  jour 
ney,  having  travelled  from  New  Hampshire  to  Fort  Schuyler, 
on  the  Mohawk  River,  where  they  were  witnesses  to  an  In 
dian  treaty  conference,  and  thence  through  wild  regions  to 
Virginia.  The  count  was  a  handsome  and  polite  man.  His 
sister  the  marchioness  was  a  small  woman,  and  somewhat 
eccentric  in  manners,  a  little  past  middle  age,  a  writer  of 
much  excellence,  and  a  skilful  amateur  artist.  To  her  the 
family  on  the  bank  of  the  Potomac  was  a  wonder  and  de 
light.  She  could  not  at  first  comprehend  the  absence  of 


250  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

pomp  and  ceremony  and  the  absolute  simplicity  of  the  mode 
of  their  reception.  She  could  not  comprehend  how  so  great 
a  man  and  how  so  illustrious  a  wife  could  be  permitted  to 
live  in  such  seclusion,  and  be  happy  in  purely  domestic  pur 
suits.  The  little  negro  children  afforded  her  infinite  amuse 
ment,  and  the  evident  affection  of  the  slaves  for  the  master 
and  mistress  was  an  unfathomable  enigma  to  her  mind.  The 
sight  of  this  cultivated  lady  moving  among  her  spinners — 
tidy,  dusky-faced  women — directing  their  labors  and  assidu 
ous  in  her  attention,  at  proper  times,  to  household  duties, 
and  yet  entertaining  her  guests  cheerily,  gave  to  the  mar 
chioness  dreams  of  Arcadian  simplicity  and  happiness,  and 
she  became  enamoured,  for  the  time,  of  republican  institu 
tions. 

The  happy  company  remained  at  Mount  Vernon  three  or 
four  days,  and  then  journeyed  to  New  York.  On  a  warm 
April  evening  the  next  year,  at  the  close  of  the  clay  when 
Washington  was  inaugurated  the  first  President  of  the  Unit 
ed  States,  the  city  of  New  York  was  illuminated,  and  the 
marchioness  honored  the  occasion  by  decorating  with  her 
own  hands  the  front  of  her  brother's  house  on  Broadway, 
near  the  Bowling  Green,  with-  transparent  paintings,  sug 
gestive  of  the  past,  the  present,  and  the  future  of  the  Unit 
ed  States.  She  began  there  a  portrait  of  Washington  from 
memory,  and  in  the  autumn,  having  persuaded  him  to  give 
her  a  sitting,  she  completed  it.  In  his  diary  under  date  of 
October  3,  1790,  he  recorded  : 

"  Walked  in  the  afternoon,  and  sat  about  two  o'clock  for 
Madame  de  Brehan  [Brienne]  to  complete  a  miniature  pro 
file  of  me,  which  she  had  begun  from  memory,  and  which 
she  made  exceedingly  like  the  original." 


BRISSOT    DE    WARVILLE.  251 

The  marchioness  also  painted  in  medallion  form,  on  cop 
per,  profiles  of  Washington  and  Lafayette  together,  both 
wearing  civic  crowns.  This  picture  she  presented  to  Mrs. 
Washington  as  a  token  of  her  friendship.  It  was  at  Arling 
ton  House  in  1858. 

A  fortnight  after  the  departure  of  the  French  minister  and 
his  party,  Brissot  de  Warville  and  M.  St.  Frie  arrived  at 
Mount  Vernon,  with  letters  of  introduction  from  Lafayette. 
"  De  Warville,"  wrote  the  marquis,  "  is  very  clever,  and 
wishes  much  to  be  presented  to  you.  He  intends  to  write 
a  history  of  America,  and  is,  of  course,  desirous  to  have  a 
peep  into  your  papers,  which  appears  to  me  a  deserved  con 
descension,  as  he  is  fond  of  America,  writes  pretty  well,  and 
will  set  matters  in  a  proper  light." 

De  Warville  was  young,  handsome,  and  full  of  enthusi 
asm.  He  was  an  ardent  republican,  as  he  understood  re 
publicanism.  He  was  so  intensely  democratic  that  on  his 
return  to  France  he  appeared  on  the  streets  of  Paris  in  the 
garb  of  a  Philadelphia  Quaker.  In  the  revolution  that  fol 
lowed  he  became  a  leader  of  the  Girondists  in  the  represent 
ative  assembly,  and  who  were  called  "  Brissotins  "  in  honor 
of  him  after  his  death.  De  Warville  opposed  the  murder  of 
the  king,  and  this  made  him  so  obnoxious  to  Robespierre 
and  his  party  that  he  was  brought  to  the  guillotine  at  the 
close  of  October,  1793. 

Of  his  visit  at  Mount  Vernon  De  Warville  wrote  with  en  - 
thusiasm.  He  was  charmed  with  everything,  particularly 
with  Mrs.  Washington.  "  Everything  about  the  house  has 
an  air  of  simplicity,"  he  wrote.  "The  table  is  good,  but 
not  ostentatious,  and  no  deviation  is  seen  from  regularity 
and  domestic  economy.  She  superintends  the  whole,  and 


252  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

joins  to  the  qualities  of  an  excellent  housewife  the  simple 
dignity  which  ought  to  characterize  a  woman  whose  husband 
has  acted  the  greatest  part  in  the  theatre  of  human  affairs, 
while  possessing  that  amiability  and  manifesting  that  atten 
tion  to  strangers  which  make  hospitality  so  charming." 

The  foreign  officers  who  served  under  Washington,  and 
had  been  entertained  in  the  camp  or  at  Mount  Vernon  by 
Mrs.  Washington,  frequently  manifested  their  admiration  of 
this  illustrious  pair  by  tokens  of  various  kinds.  Lafayette 
and  his  wife  never  wearied  of  correspondence  with  them.* 

*  Both  Rochambeau  and  Chastellux  continued  to  correspond  with  the 
family  at  Mount  Vernon  for  several  years.  In  one  of  his  letters,  in  the 
spring  of  1788,  Chastellux,  who  had  lived  a  bachelor  until  he  was  fifty- 
four  years  of  age,  mentioned  his  "wife."  Washington  playfully  re 
sponded  :  "  In  reading  your  very  friendly  and  acceptable  letter  which 
came  to  hand  by  the  last  mail,  I  was,  as  you  may  well  suppose,  not  less 
delighted  than  surprised  to  meet  the  plain  American  words,  'my  wife.' 
A  wife !  Well,  my  dear  Marquis,  I  can  hardly  refrain  from  smiling  to 
find  you  are  caught  at  last.  I  saw,  by  the  eulogium  you  often  made  on 
the  happiness  of  domestic  life  in  America,  that  you  had  swallowed  the 
bait,  and  that  you  would  as  surely  be  taken,  one  day  or  another,  as  that 
you  were  a  philosopher  and  a  soldier.  So  your  day  has  at  length  come. 
I  am  glad  of  it,  with  all  my  heart  and  soul.  It  is  quite  good  enough 
for  you.  Now  you  are  well  served  for  coming  to  fight  in  favor  of  the 
American  rebels,  all  the  way  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  by  catching  that 
terrible  contagion,  domestic  felicity,  which,  like  the  small-pox  or  the 
plague,  a  man  can  have  only  once  in  his  life  because  it  commonly  lasts 
(at  least  with  us  in  America ;  I  know  not  how  you  manage  these  matters 
in  France)  for  his  whole  lifetime.  And  yet,  after  all,  the  worst  wish 
which  I  can  find  in  my  heart  to  make  against  Madame  cle  Chastellux 
and  yourself,  is  that  you  may  neither  of  you  ever  get  the  better  of  this 
same  domestic  felicity  during  the  entire  course  of  your  mortal  exist- 


PRESENTS  FROM  FRANCE.  253 

The  marchioness  had  learned  to  reverence  the  general  with 
a  feeling  akin  to  devotion.  He  and  her  husband  were 
brothers  of  the  fraternity  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  when  Lafayette  visited  Mount  Vernon  in  1784,  he  bore 
to  his  friend,  as  a  present  from  the  marchioness,  a  masonic 
apron  of  white  satin,  the  devices  upon  it  beautifully  wrought 
by  her  own  hands.  The  marquis,  as  we  have  seen,  sent  him 
a  pack  of  hounds  on  his  return.  A  little  later  he  presented 
to  the  general  two  powerful  asses  from  Malta,  a  Jack  and 
a  Jenny.  The  former  was  named  Knight  of  Malta,  and  be 
came  the  progenitor  of  a  famous  race  of  mules  on  the 
Mount  Vernon  estate,  some  of  them  sixteen  hands  high. 

The  French  members  of  the  "  Society  of  the  Cincinnati " 
presented  to  Washington  an  elegant  Order,  studded  with 
about  two  hundred  precious  stones  and  costing  $3000. 
The  eagle  and  a  group  of  military  trophies  above  were  cov 
ered  with  diamonds.  The  olive-leaves  attached  to  the  eagle 
were  emeralds,  the  berries  were  rubies,  and  the  beak  of  the 
eagle  was  an  amethyst.  Washington  presented  this  order 
to  the  General  Society.  It  is  worn  at  the  meetings  by  the 
President-general.  Hon.  Hamilton  Fish,  of  New  York,  is 
now  (1886)  the  incumbent  of  that  office. 

With  the  costly  Order  came,  as  a  present  for  Washington 
and  his  wife  from  the  French  officers,  two  elegant  dinner- 
sets  of  Sevres  china,  made  specially  for  them.  Each  piece 
of  the  service  sent  to  Washington  was  decorated  with 
wreaths  of  leaves,  scrolls,  and  the  figure  of  soaring  Fame 
sounding  a  trumpet  and  holding  in  one  hand  the  Order  of 
the  Cincinnati.  The  service  presented  to  Mrs.  Washington 
was  more  delicate  in  colors  than  that  sent  to  the  general. 
Each  piece  bore  the  monogram  of  Martha  Washington — 


254 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


MRS.   WASHINGTON  S   SEVKES   CHINA. 


M.  W. — enclosed  in  a  beautiful  wreath  of  green  leaves  of  the 
olive  and  the  laurel.     Beneath  this  was  a  floating  ribbon 
bearing  the  words,  in  delicately  traced  letters,  Decus  et  tuta 
men  abillo.     From  the  wreath  shot  out  rays  of  gold,  which 
gave  a  brilliant  appearance  to  the  whole.     Around  the  out 
side  of  each  cup  and  cov 
ered  dish,  and  the   inside 
of  each  plate,  saucer,  and 
open  vessel,  painted  in  del 
icate  colors,  was  delineated 
a  chain   of  thirteen   large 
and   thirteen   small  links, 
elliptical  in  form.     W'ithin 
each    large    link    was   the 

name  of  one  of  the  States  of  the  American  Republic.  Some 
pieces  of  this  and  the  "  Cincinnati  china  "  were  preserved 
at  Arlington  House  before  the  late  Civil  War. 

We  have  observed  that  the  nation  turned  to  Washington 
for  counsel  and  action  when  the  wisest  of  his  fellow-citizens 
as  well  as  himself  clearly  perceived  the  perils  that  menaced 
the  inchoate  Republic  under  the  operations  of  the  Articles 
of  Confederation.  It  was  finally  determined  that  the  fram 
ing  of  a  new  plan  of  government  was  essentially  necessary 
to  the  salvation  of  the  liberties  and  independence  which 
the  people  had  won  during  a  dreadful  struggle.  A  conven 
tion  of  delegates  from  the  several  States  was  called  to  meet 
in  Philadelphia  in  May,  1787.  Washington  had  solemnly 
declared,  on  his  retirement  from  the  army,  that  he  would 
never  appear  in  public  life  again.*  He  tendered  his  coun- 


In  the  spring  of  1788  Washington  accepted  from  the  trustees  of 


THE   CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTION.  255 

sel  and  his  pen  freely  to  the  important  movement,  but  for  a 
long  time  he  refused  his  consent  to  appear  as  a  delegate  in 
the  convention.  He  was  entreated  by  letters  and  in  person 
al  interviews  by  leading  men  everywhere  to  come  to  the 
rescue.  The  clouds  of  danger  were  thickly  gathering  in 
the  political  firmament,  and  muttering  thunder  was  audible. 
Mrs.  Washington,  whose  heart  was  as  sensitive  as  his  to  the 
impulses  of  patriotism,  not  only  consented  to  his  going  forth 
to  conflict  for  his  country  again,  but  urged  him  to  do  so. 
His  own  judgment  and  conscience  bade  him  gird  on  his  ar 
mor,  and,  as  usual,  he  yielded  private  considerations  to  the 
public  good.  He  was  chosen  a  representative  of  Virginia 
in  the  convention  which  he  had  recommended.  He  depart 
ed  for  Philadelphia  in  his  carriage  on  the  gth  of  May,  and 
on  the  i4th  was  chosen  president  of  the  august  body  which 
framed  our  National  Constitution.  He  served  in  that  ca 
pacity  with  dignity  nearly  four  months. 

The  result  of  the  labors  of  this  Constitutional  Convention 
was  not  exactly  in  accordance  with  his  desires.  He  had 
misgivings  concerning  the  new  constitution,  but  yielded  a 
cheerful  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the  majority.  To  La 
fayette  he  wrote  from  Philadelphia  at  the  close  of  the  con 
vention  concerning  the  instrument  which  had  been  adopted  : 

"  It  is  the  result  of  four  months'  deliberation.  It  is  now 
a  child  of  fortune,  to  be  fostered  by  some  and  buffeted  by 
others.  What  will  be  the  general  opinion  or  the  reception 


William  and  Mary  College,  Virginia,  the  chancellorship  of  the  institu 
tion.  It  was  little  more  than  an  honorary  position,  as  not  even  his  per 
sonal  attendance  at  any  time  was  necessary.  He  was  the  Maecenas,  or 
patron  of  the  college. 


256  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

of  it  is  not  for  me  to  decide  ;  nor  shall  I  say  anything  for 
or  against  it.  If  it  be  good,  I  suppose  it  will  work  its  way ; 
if  bad,  it  will  recoil  on  the  framers." 

In  due  time  this  constitution  was  ratified  by  conventions 
of  the  people  in  the  requisite  number  of  States.  Then  fol 
lowed  spontaneous  expressions  of  an  universal  desire  that 
Washington  should  be  chosen  the  chief-magistrate  of  the 
Republic,  which  had  now  for  the  first  time  assumed  the  dig 
nity  of  a  nation  in  fact.  In  the  autumn  of  1788  the  suf 
frages  of  the  people  were  given  to  him  in  the  choice  of 
electors,  and  he  was  chosen  President  by  the  unanimous 
voice  of  the  Electoral  College  in  the  spring  of  1789.  There 
had  been  such  delay  in  the  assembling  of  Congress  that  a 
quorum  was  not  present  at  New  York,  the  temporary  seat  of 
the  National  Government,  until  early  in  April,  to  hear  the 
report  of  the  electors.  So  reluctantly  did  Washington  ac 
cept  the  office  that  the  delay  was  a  source  of  pleasure  to 
him.  To  General  Knox  he  wrote  : 

"  For  myself,  the  delay  may  be  compared  to  a  reprieve ; 
for  in  confidence  I  tell  you  (with  the  world  it  would  obtain 
little  credit)  that  my  movement  to  the  chair  of  government 
will  be  accompanied  by  feelings  not  unlike  that  of  a  culprit, 
who  is  going  to  the  place  of  execution ;  so  unwilling  am  I, 
on  the  evening  of  a  life  nearly  consumed  in  public  cares,  to 
quit  a  peaceful  abode  for  an  ocean  of  difficulties,  without 
that  comforting  of  political  skill,  abilities,  and  inclination, 
which  are  necessary  to  manage  the  helm.  I  am  sensible 
that  I  am  embarking  the  voice  of  the  people,  and  a  good 
name  of  my  own,  on  this  voyage  ;  but  what  returns  will  be 
made  for  them,  Heaven  alone  can  foretell.  Integrity  and 
firmness  are  all  I  can  promise.  These,  be  the  voyage  long 


SECRETARY   THOMSON    AT    MOUNT    VERNON.  257 

or  short,  shall  never  forsake  me,  although  I  may  be  deserted 
by  all  men." 

On  Tuesday  morning,  April  i4th,  between  ten  and  eleven 
o'clock,  a  visitor  arrived  at  Mount  Vernon  charged  with  an 
errand  more  important  and  momentous  than  that  of  any 
who  had  passed  the  threshold  of  that  hospitable  mansion. 
He  was  received  by  Mrs.  Washington  with  her  usual  cheer 
ful  and  cordial  welcome,  for  she  had  enjoyed  his  friend 
ship  and  hospitality  in  Philadelphia.  He  bore  tidings 
which  to  most  people  would  have  been  joyful  and  exhilarat 
ing,  but  to  the  general  and  his  wife  were  of  the  most  pain 
ful  nature.  He  bore  a  summons  for  them  to  abandon  the 
sweets  of  private  life  and  felicities  of  domestic  enjoyment 
in  their  quiet  rural  home,  which  they  both  so  much  loved, 
and  to  endure  for  an  indefinite  time  the  cares  and  excite 
ments  of  public  life  in  the  most  exalted  station  in  the  gift 
of  a  free  people.  This  summons  was  not  unexpected,  and 
therefore  was  not  surprising. 

The  messenger  was  the  venerable  Charles  Thomson,  the 
secretary  of  the  Continental  Congress.  He  was  the  bearer 
of  the  official  certificate  of  Washington's  election  to  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States,  and  a  letter  from  the  Pres 
ident  pro  tempore  of  the  Senate,  John  Langdon. 

Washington  was  absent  on  the  usual  tour  of  his  farms, 
and  did  not  return  until  dinner-time.  He  warmly  greeted 
his  true  and  constant  friend,  and  the  two  lingered  long  at 
table  after  Mrs.  Washington  and  the  family  and  one  or  two 
guests  had  retired. 

Washington  made  arrangements  immediately  for  a  jour 
ney  to  New  York.  He  rode  to  Fredericksburg  to  bid  his 
invalid  mother  farewell,  as  we  have  observed  on  page  67, 


258  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

and  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th  he  left  his  home,  to  which 
he  did  not  return  again,  excepting  at  intervals,  for  the  space 
of  eight  years,  leaving  Mrs.  Washington  to  follow  him  soon. 
He  was  accompanied  on  the  journey  by  Secretary  Thomson, 
Colonel  Humphreys,  and  his  faithful  body-servant,  Billy. 

The  travellers  were  met  at  the  lodge  at  the  entrance  gate 
to  the  Mount  Vernon  estate,  about  a  mile  from  the  man 
sion,  by  a  cavalcade  of  gentlemen  from  Alexandria,  who  es 
corted  them  to  that  city,  where  they  partook  of  a  public  din 
ner,  the  first  of  a  series  of  ovations  that  awaited  Washington 
on  his  journey.  That  night  he  wrote  in  his  diary  : 

"About  ten  o'clock  I  bade  adieu  to  Mount  Vernon,  to 
private  life,  and  to  domestic  felicity,  and  with  a  mind  op 
pressed  with  more  anxious  and  painful  sensations  than  I 
have  words  to  express,  set  out  for  New  York,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Thomson  and  Colonel  Humphreys,  with  the  best 
disposition  to  render  service  to  my  country  in  obedience 
to  its  call,  but  with  less  hope  of  answering  its  expecta 
tions." 

At  Georgetown,  where  Washington  passed  the  night,  he 
was  very  warmly  greeted.  At  Baltimore,  the  next  night,  he 
was  entertained  at  a  public  supper.  On  his  departure  in 
the  morning  he  was  saluted  by  discharges  of  cannon,  and 
escorted  seven  miles  by  a  cavalcade  of  leading  citizens. 
On  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania  he  was  met  by  a  troop  of 
cavalry  and  many  gentlemen  on  horseback,  among  them 
General  Mifjflin,  governor  of  the  State.  At  the  Schuyl- 
kill  ferry  he  passed  under  triumphal  arches  on  each  side 
of  the  river,  where  he  was  met  by  thousands  of  the  citizens 
of  Philadelphia,  who  escorted  him  into  the  city,  where  he 
was  entertained  by  the  municipal  authorities.  He  rode  on 


INAUGURATION    OF    WASHINGTON.  259 

to  Trenton,  where,  at  the  little  bridge  over  which  he  had 
been  driven  by  Cornwallis  about  twelve  years  before,  he 
passed  under  a  beautiful  triumphal  arch,  the  work  of  ladies 
of  New  Jersey.  His  way  there  was  strewn  with  flowers  by 
thirteen  young  maidens,  who  chanted  a  song  of  welcome. 
At  Elizabethtown  Point  he  was  met  by  a  committee  of  each 
House  of  Congress,  and  was  conveyed  to  New  York  in  a 
magnificent  barge  (which  was  presented  to  him),  manned  by 
thirteen  pilots,  where  he  was  received  with  great  joy  by  the 
civil  authorities  and  a  multitude  of  citizens,  and  conducted 
by  a  military  escort  to  a  mansion  prepared  for  him.* 

On  Thursday,  the  3oth  of  April,  Washington  was  inaugu 
rated  the  first  president  of  the  Republic  under  the  National 
Constitution.  The  ceremony  took  place  in  the  open  gallery 
of  "  Federal  Hall,"  on  Wall  Street,  in  the  presence  of  a 
great  multitude  of  citizens  and  strangers.  The  President 
was  dressed  in  a  suit  of  dark  brown  cloth  and  white  silk 
stockings,  all  of  American  manufacture.  The  oath  of  office 
was  administered  to  him  by  Chancellor  Livingston,  when  the 
President  said,  "I  swear,"  and  lifting  an  open  Bible  f  lying 
on  a  crimson  cushion  before  him,  he  said,  in  a  firm  voice, 
"  So  help  me,  God  !"  Then  the  chancellor,  turning  to  the 
people,  said,  "  It  is  done  !"  and  shouted  with  a  loud  voice, 

*  A  more  particular  account  of  this  journey  of  Washington  may  be 
found  in  "  Mount  Vernon  and  its  Associations  :  the  Home  of  Washing 
ton,"  pp.  206-214. 

f  This  Bible  belonged  to  St.  John's  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  Chancellor  Livingston  was  then  Grand  Master  of  the  order. 
It  is  preserved  as  a  most  precious  treasure  by  the  lodge,  and  contains  a 
notice  of  the  momentous  event  above  recorded,  together  with  a  portrait 
of  Washington  engraved  by  Leney. 


260  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

which  was  echoed  by  the  people,  "  Long  live  George  Wash 
ington,  President  of  the  United  States !" 

Arrangements  had  been  made  for  an  inauguration  ball, 
but  as  Mrs.  Washington  did  not  accompany  her  husband 
the  design  was  abandoned.  A  week  later,  however,  a  splen 
did  ball  was  given  at  the  "Assembly  Rooms,"  on  Broadway 
just  above  Wall  Street,  which  was  attended  by  the  President 
and  Vice-president  (John  Adams),  a  majority  of  both  Houses 
of  Congress,  the  ministers  of  France  and  Spain,  generals 
and  distinguished  civilians,  with  wives,  daughters,  and  sis 
ters.  "The  collection  of  ladies,"  wrote  a  contemporary, 
"was  numerous  and  brilliant,  and  they  were  dressed  in  con 
summate  taste  and  elegance." 

"  Among  the  most  distinguished  women  at  this  ball,"  says 
Griswold,  in  his  "Republican  Court,"  "were  Lady  Stirling 
and  her  two  daughters,  Lady  Mary  Watts  and  Lady  Kitty 
Duer ;  Mrs.  P.  Vanbrugh  Livingston,  who  was  a  sister  of 
the  late  Lord  Stirling ;  Mrs.  Montgomery,  widow  of  the 
hero  of  Quebec ;  Lady  Christina  Griffin,  Lady  Temple,  the 
Marchioness  de  Brienne,  Madame  de  la  Forest,  Mrs.  Clin 
ton,  Mrs.  Jay,  Mrs.  Hamilton,  Mrs.  Provoost,  wife  of  Bishop 
Provoost ;  Mrs.  Duane,  wife  of  the  mayor ;  Mrs.  Senator 
Dalton,  Mrs.  Senator  Langdon,  Mrs.  Dominick  Lynch,  Mrs. 
Elbridge  Gerry,  Mrs.  William  S.  Smith,  Mrs.  James  H.  Max 
well,  Mrs.  Beekman,  Mrs.  Robinson,  the  Misses  Livingston, 
the  Misses  Bayard,  and  Mrs.  Van  Zandt.  The  President 
danced  during  the  evening  in  the  cotillion  with  Mrs.  P.  V. 
Livingston  and  Mrs.  Maxwell,  and  with  the  latter  in  a  min 
uet.  He  had  repeatedly  danced  with  Mrs.  Maxwell  (then 
Miss  Van  Zandt)  while  the  head-quarters  of  the  army  were 
at  Morristown."  Every  woman  who  attended  the  ball  was 


COSTUMES   AT   THE    FIRST   PRESIDENTIAL    BALL.          261 

surprised  by  the  present  of  a  fan,  prepared  in  Paris,  with 
ivory  frame,  which,  when  opened,  displayed  a  medallion 
likeness  of  Washington  in  profile. 

The  late  Col.  W.  L.  Stone  described  some  of  the  cos 
tumes  at  this  ball.  He  said,  "  Few  jewels  were  then  worn 
in  the  United  States."  He  described  one  of  the  costumes 
as  follows  :  "  A  plain,  celestial  blue  satin  gown  with  a  white 
satin  petticoat.  On  the  neck  was  worn  a  very  large  Italian 
gauze  handkerchief,  with  border  stripes  of  satin.  The  head 
dress  was  a  pouf  of  gauze  in  the  form  of  a  globe,  the  cre- 
neaux  or  head-piece  of  which  was  composed  of  white  satin, 
having  a  double  wing,  in  large  plaits,  and  trimmed  with  a 
wreath  of  artificial  roses  falling  from  the  left  at  the  top  to 
the  right  at  the  bottom,  in  front,  and  the  reverse  behind. 
The  hair  was  dressed  all  over  in  detached  curls,  four  of 
which,  in  two  ranks,  fell  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  and  were 
relieved  behind  by  a  floating  chignon.  Another  beautiful 
dress  was  a  perriot,  made  of  gray  India  taffeta,  with  dark 
stripes  of  the  same  color — having  two  collars,  the  one  yel 
low,  and  the  other  white,  both  trimmed  with  a  blue  silk 
fringe,  and  a  reverse  trimmed  in  the  same  manner.  Under 
the  perriot  they  wore  a  yellow  corset  or  bodice,  with  large 
stripes  of  blue.  Some  of  the  ladies  wore  Spanish  hats  of 
white  satin,  with  a  plume." 

Mr.  Jefferson  gave  in  his  "  Ana,"  as  illustrative  of  the 
"frenzy  which  prevailed  in  New  York  on  the  opening  of  the 
new  government,"  an  account  of  this  ball,  on  the  authority 
of  "Mr.  Brown."  He  wrote:  "At  the  first  public  ball 
which  took  place  after  the  President's  arrival  there,  Colonel 
Humphreys,  Col.  W.  S.  Smith,  and  Mrs.  Knox  were  to  ar 
range  the  ceremonials.  These  arrangements  were  as  fol- 


262  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

lows :  A  sofa  at  the  head  of  the  room,  raised  on  several 
steps,  whereon  the  President  and  Mrs.  Washington  were  to 
be  seated  ;  the  gentlemen  were  to  dance  with  swords ;  each 
one,  when  going  to  dance,  was  to  lead  his  partner  to  the 
foot  of  the  sofa,  make  a  low  obeisance  to  the  President  and 
his  lady,  then  go  and  dance,  and  when  done,  bring  his  part 
ner  back  to  the  sofa,  for  new  obeisances,  and  finally  retire 
to  their  chairs.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Knox  contrived  to  come  with  the 
President,  and  to  follow  him  and  Mrs.  Washington  to  their 
destination,  and  she  had  the  design  of  forcing  from  the 
President  an  invitation  to  a  seat  on  the  sofa.  She  mounted 
up  the  steps  after  them,  unbidden,  but  unfortunately  the 
wicked  sofa  was  so  short  that,  when  the  President  and  Mrs. 
Washington  were  seated,  there  was  no  room  for  a  third 
person,  and  she  was  obliged,  therefore,  to  descend,  in  the 
face  of  the  company,  and  to  sit  where  she  could." 

This  whole  story  was  a  fiction.  Mrs.  Washington  did 
not  arrive  in  New  York  until  a  fortnight  after  the  ball,  and 
Mrs.  Knox  was  not  present,  for  at  that  time  she  was  in  a 
situation  which  prevented  her  appearance  in  society.  Yet 
this  and  other  absurd  stories  concerning  the  etiquette  of 
the  republican  court  have  been  incorporated  in  history. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  house  provided  for  the  residence  of  the  President 
at  New  York  was  at  No.  10  Cherry  Street,  near  Franklin 
Square.  It  belonged  to  Mr.  Osgood  of  the  Treasury  Board, 
and  had  been  occupied  by  presidents  of  the  Continental 
Congress  during  its  sessions  in  New  York.*  The  mansion 
was  quite  elegant  and  spacious  for  the  time,  and  was  in  a 
very  respectable,  though  not  in  the  most  fashionable,  quarter 
of  the  city,  which  was  then  in  Wall  and  Broad  streets.  It 
was  regarded  as  "up-town."  The  situation  was  pleasant, 
for  in  front  of  it  flowed  the  broad  East  River,  beyond  which 
were  the  little  village  of  Brooklyn  and  the  green  forests  of 
Long  Island. 

Mrs.  Washington  did  not  join  her  husband  until  nearly  a 
month  after  his  inauguration.  She  lingered  at  her  beloved 
home  on  the  Potomac  as  long  as  possible,  reluctant  to  leave 
her  family,  her  friends,  and  the  delicious  enjoyments  of  quiet 
domestic  life.  She  was  then  fifty-seven  years  of  age,  and 
still  retained  many  traces  of  the  beauty  of  her  early  life, 
with  all  its  cheerfulness  and  sweetness. 

But  Mrs.  Washington's  inclinations  yielded  to  duty,  as 
usual,  and  very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  igih  of  May 

*  This  house  was  built  by  Walter  Franklin,  one  of  the  wealthiest  mer 
chants  in  New  York.  Mr.  Osgood  married  his  widow. 


264 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


she  departed  from  Mount  Vernon  in  her  chaise,  drawn  by 
four  horses,  and  accompanied  by  a  small  escort  on  horse 
back.  In  her  carriage  were  her  two  grandchildren  (the 
foster-children  of  her  husband),  Eleanor  Parke  Custis  and 
George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  and  a  maid.  She  was 
clothed,  like  her  husband  at  his  inauguration,  in  cloth  of 
American  manufacture.  She  was  warmly  greeted  by  friends 
at  Alexandria  and  Georgetown,  but  she  tarried  not,  except 
to  dine,  until  she  reached  Baltimore  the  same  evening. 


PRESIDENT'S  HOUSE  IN  CHERRY  STREET,  NEAR  FRANKLIN  SQUARE,  NEW  YORK. 

An  express  had  heralded  her  approach,  and  a  number  of 
gentlemen  rode  out  to  Hammond's  Ferry  on  horseback  to 
meet  her  and  escort  her  into  the  city,  where  she  was  received 
with  many  tokens  of  the  most  profound  respect  and  affec 
tion.  During  supper  at  the  best  inn  in  the  city  (at  which 
several  ladies  and  gentlemen  sat  with  her)  she  was  serenad 
ed  by  a  band  of  amateur  musicians  composed  of  respectable 
young  men.  Afterwards  some  brilliant  fireworks  were  dis 
played  in  her  honor. 


MRS.  WASHINGTON  EN  ROUTE  TO  NEW  YORK.     265 

An  express  was  sent  to  Philadelphia  to  announce  the 
coming  of  Mrs.  Washington.  It  was  ascertained  that  she 
would  breakfast  at  Chester  on  the  morning  of  the  22d. 
Two  troops  of  dragoons  and  a  numerous  cavalcade  of  gen 
tlemen  rode  out  from  the  city  at  an  early  hour,  and  at  a 
place  ten  miles  distant  they  awaited  her  coming.  Among  the 
gentlemen  were  Governor  Mifflin  and  suite,  and  the  speaker 
of  the  General  Assembly.  On  her  appearance  the  military 
formed  in  two  open  columns  and  received  her  with  the  honor 
due  to  the  commander-in-chief.  Many  of  the  troops  were 
veterans  of  the  late  war,  and  as  Mrs.  Washington  in  her  car 
riage  passed  through  the  flanking  columns,  they  all  looked 
upon  her  with  the  most  tender  emotion,  their  eyes  brimming 
with  tears.  Some  of  them  had  felt  her  loving  kindness  to 
them  when  sick  in  camp,  and  in  most  pathetic  undertones 
they  said  as  she  passed  by,  "  God  bless  Lady  Washington." 

At  the  pleasant  little  village  of  Darby,  seven  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  Mrs.  Washington  was  met  by  a  brilliant  com 
pany  of  women  in  carriages.  These  in  grand  procession 
accompanied  her  to  the  famous  inn  at  Gray's  Ferry,  on  the 
Schuylkill,  a  pleasant  and  fashionable  resort  for  the  young 
and  gay  people  of  Philadelphia.  Thither  they  went  in  sum 
mer,  singly  and  in  parties,  to  enjoy  the  cool  and  shady  re 
treat,  and  in  winter  in  sleighing  parties,  to  dine  and  some 
times  to  pass  the  night  in  the  pleasure  of  the  dance.  There 
the  distinguished  travellers  partook  of  a  collation  with  fully 
one  hundred  ladies  and  gentlemen. 

At  the  ferry  Mrs.  Washington  was  met  and  warmly  em 
braced  by  her  friend  Mrs.  Robert  Morris,  wife  of  the  great 
financier  of  the  revolution,  who  had  come  out  from  the  city  to 
greet  the  distinguished  lady  who  was  to  be  her  guest  while 


266  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

she  remained  in  Philadelphia.  The  two  friends  took  seats 
together  in  Mrs.  Washington's  chaise,  Mrs.  Morris  resigning 
her  place  in  her  own  carriage  to  young  Custis,  a  boy  about 
eight  years  of  age. 

From  the  ferry  to  the  city  the  scene  was  like  that  which 
marks  the  return  of  a  victorious  general.  The  way  was 
fringed  with  thousands  of  men,  women,  and  children,  who 
rent  the  air  with  prolonged  huzzas.  Thirteen  discharges 
from  a  park  of  artillery  had  announced  Mrs.  Washington's 
arrival,  and  set  the  quiet  city  astir.  At  High  Street  the 
procession  halted,  when  Mrs.  Washington,  rising  in  her  car 
riage,  thanked  the  troops  and  citizens  in  a  few  gracious 
words,  and  then  took  leave  of  her  escort.  The  joyous  mul 
titude  were  soon  dispersed  to  their  homes  and  occupations. 
The  weaned  travellers  were  vouchsafed  a  night  of  uninter 
rupted  repose  ;  but  on  the  following  day  the  spacious  draw 
ing-room  of  Mrs.  Morris  was  crowded  for  hours  with  distin 
guished  men  and  women,  who  came  to  tender  the  homage 
of  their  profound  respect  for  her  guest.  Mrs.  Washington's 
reception  at  this  time  was  in  marked  contrast  with  that 
which  she  experienced  while  tarrying  a  few  days  in  Phila 
delphia  in  1775,  when  on  her  way  to  Cambridge.* 

On  the  morning  after  this  reception,  Mrs.  Washington,  ac 
companied  by  Mrs.  Morris,  in  her  own  carriage,  left  Phila 
delphia  for  New  York.  Troops  had  paraded  early,  preparing 
to  escort  them  as  far  as  Trenton.  Ominous  clouds  were 
gathering  when  they  reached  Frankford,  five  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  and  rain  began  to  fall,  when  Mrs.  Washington 
kindly  requested  the  troops  to  go  no  farther.  They  took  a 

*  See  page  138. 


ARRIVAL    AT    NEW   YORK.  267 

respectful  leave  of  her  and  her  company  and  returned.  The 
travellers  lodged  at  Trenton  that  night,  and  the  next  day 
rode  to  Elizabethtown,  where  the  whole  party  became  the 
guests  of  the  venerable  Governor  Livingston,  at  "  Liberty 
Hall,"  his  seat,  not  far  from  the  village.  There  they  met 
his  daughter,  the  beautiful  Mrs.  Jay,  a  matron  of  thirty-three, 
and  then  the  central  figure  of  the  best  society  in  New  York. 

On  leaving  the  hospitable  "  Hall "  on  Wednesday  morn 
ing,  the  28th,  Mrs.  Washington  and  her  company  rode  to 
Elizabethtown  Point,  only  a  short  distance,  where  they  were 
met  by  the  President,  Mr.  Morris,  and  other  distinguished 
gentlemen,  who  had  left,  the  city  at  five  o'clock  that  morn 
ing.  They  had  come  in  the  President's  magnificent  barge, 
manned,  as  when  he  was  conveyed  in  it  to  New  York  a  few 
weeks  before,  by  thirteen  pilots  in  handsome  white  garments. 
The  travellers  took  seats  in  the  barge,  and  they  were  con 
veyed  swiftly  to  New  York.  As  the  beautiful  vessel  was 
seen  coming  up  the  bay,  a  throng  of  citizens  gathered  at  the 
landing-place  to  welcome  the  wife  of  the  President  to  the 
now  metropolitan  city.  As  the  barge  and  its  precious  bur 
den  approached  the  Battery,  it  was  saluted  by  the  discharge 
of  thirteen  heavy  guns,  and  as  the  distinguished  passengers 
landed,  the  multitude  greeted  them  with  prolonged  cheering, 
some  shouting  "  Long  live  President  Washington !  God 
bless  Lady  Washington !"  The  President  and  his  wife  en 
tered  a  carriage  and  were  driven  to  the  mansion  in  Cherry 
Street. 

Mrs.  Washington  had  sent  from  Mount  Vernon,  by  sea, 
for  the  purpose  of  adorning  the  presidential  mansion,  many 
articles  of  taste  and  luxury  which  European  friends  had  pre 
sented  to  her  husband  and  herself.  Among  these  were  pict- 


268  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ures,  vases,  and  other  ornaments.*  Washington  had  taken 
with  him  to  New  York  the  family  plate,  which  he  caused  to 
be  made  over  into  a  tea-service  more  elegant  in  form  and 
massive  in  structure.  This  service  Mrs.  Washington  always 
used  at  her  private  tea-parties  while  she  was  in  New  York 
and  Philadelphia.  Each  piece  bore  an  engraving  of  the 
arms  of  the  Washington  family.  The  massive  salver  was 
twenty-two  and  a  half  inches  long  and  seventeen  and  a  half 
inches  wide,  and  was  oval  in  shape.  This  service  composed 
a  portion  of  the  Washington  treasures  at  Arlington  House 
before  the  late  Civil  War. 

On  the  day  after  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Washington  she  and 
her  husband  entertained  at  dinner  without  ceremony  a  few 
distinguished  gentlemen.  These  were  Vice-president  Ad 
ams,  Governor  Clinton,  the  French  and  Spanish  ministers 
(the  Count  de  Moustier  and  Don  Diego  Gardoqui),  Mr.  Jay, 
General  St.  Clair,  Senators  Langdon,  Wingate,  Izard,  and 
Few,  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  Mr. 
Muhlenberg.  It  was  a  plain  family  dinner.  Washington, 
standing  at  the  head  of  the  table,  asked  a  blessing  in  a  few 
words.f  After  the  dessert  a  single  glass  of  wine  was  offered 

*  The  pictures  were  chiefly  engravings.  Among  them  was  a  large 
engraved  portrait  of  Louis  XVI.,  full  length,  standing  by  his  throne  in 
his  state  robes.  It  was  a  present  from  the  king  to  the  patriot.  It  was 
inclosed  in  a  superb  gilt  frame.  At  the  top  of  the  frame,  surrounded  by 
appropriate  emblems,  were  the  royal  arms  of  France,  beautifully  carved 
in  high-relief,  and  at  the  bottom  the  arms  of  the  United  States.  In  each 
corner  of  the  frame  were  monograms  of  Louis  and  Washington. 

f  This  was  Washington's  habit  on  all  occasions.  Several  years  ago  I 
visited  two  venerable  ladies — twin  sisters— over  ninety  years  of  age,  at 
the  village  of  Croton-on-the-Hudson.  They  remembered  Washington 
stopping  at  their  house  one  day,  and  asking  their  mother  for  some  food. 


WELCOMED    TO    THE   CITY. — HER   RECEPTIONS.  269 

to  each  of  the  guests,  and  when  it  was  drunk  the  President 
arose  and  went  to  the  drawing-room,  followed  by  the  guests, 
when  each  one  departed  as  he  chose,  without  the  least  cere 
mony.  This  simplicity  of  private  entertainment,  though  not 
quite  so  severe,  was  continued  during  Washington's  admin 
istration  of  eight  years. 

On  the  same  day  (in  the  morning)  many  of  the  principal 
women  of  the  city  made  formal  calls  upon  Mrs.  Washington 
and  welcomed  her  to  their  society.  Among  them  were  Mrs. 
Governor  Clinton,  Mrs.  General  Montgomery,  Lady  Stirling, 
Lady  Kitty  Duer,  Lady  Mary  Watts,  Lady  Temple  (wife  of 
the  British  Consul),  Lady  Christina  Griffin,  the  Marchioness 
de  Brienne,  Madame  de  la  Forest,  Mrs.  John  Langdon,  Mrs. 
Tristram  Dalton,  Mrs.  General  Knox,  Mrs.  P.  V.  Livingston, 
Mrs.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Elbridge  Gerry,  Mrs.  McComb,  Mrs. 
Edgar,  Mrs.  Lynch,  Mrs.  Houston,  Mrs.  Bishop  Provoost, 
Mrs.  Beekman,  the  Misses  Bayard,  and  many  others.* 

Two  days  after  her  arrival  (Friday)  Mrs.  Washington  held 
her  first  formal  reception.  These  "  drawing-rooms  "  or  levees 
were  continued  ever  afterwards  on  Friday  evenings  of  each 
week,  from  eight  to  nine  o'clock.  They  were  numerously  at 
tended  by  all  the  most  fashionable,  elegant,  and  refined  in 
society.  Mrs.  Washington,  though  averse  to  all  ostentatious 
show  and  parade,  "  proud  of  her  husband's  exalted  fame  and 
jealous  of  the  honors  due,"  wrote  Colonel  Stone, "  not  only  to 
his  own  lofty  character,  but  to  the  dignified  station  to  which 

She  had  nothing  in  the  house  but  some  cold  ham  and  bread  and  butter, 
with  cold  water,  which  she  set  before  him  on  a  little  deal  table.     Before 
partaking,  Washington  stood  alone,  and  closing  his  eyes  offered  a  few 
words  of  thanksgiving  for  the  food  set  before  him. 
*  Griswold's  "  Republican  Court,"  p.  164. 


270  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

a  grateful  country  had  called  him,  was  careful  in  her  draw 
ing-rooms  to  exact  those  courtesies  to  which  she  knew  he 
was  entitled,  as  well  on  account  of  personal  merit  as  of  offi 
cial  consideration.  .  .  .  The  charms  of  social  intercourse 
were  then  heightened  by  a  reasonable  attention,  in  the  best 
circles,  to  those  forms  and  usages  which  indicate  the  well- 
bred  assemblage,  and  fling  around  it  an  air  of  elegance  and 
grace  which  the  envious  only  affect  to  decry  and  the  innate 
ly  vulgar  only  ridicule  and  contemn.  None,  therefore,  were 
admitted  to  the  levees  but  those  who  had  either  a  right  by 
official  station  to  be  there,  or  were  entitled  to  the  privilege 
by  established  merit  and  character;  and  full  dress  was  re 
quired  of  all." 

At  these  and  the  President's  receptions  "  there  were  no 
places,"  wrote  Colonel  Stone,  "for  the  intrusion  of  the  rab 
ble  in  crowds,  or  for  the  mere  coarse  and  boisterous  partisan 
—the  vulgar  electioneerer  or  the  impudent  place-hunter— 
with  boots  and  frock-coats  or  roundabouts,  or  with  patched 
knees  and  holes  at  both  elbows.  On  the  contrary,  they 
were  select  and  more  courtly  than  have  been  given  by  any 
of  his  [Washington's]  successors." 

At  Mrs.  Washington's  receptions  the  President  usually 
stood  by  the  right  side  of  his  wife  for  a  while,  and  they  re 
ceived  the  visitors  together  as  they  were  severally  present 
ed.  When  these  were  assembled  Washington  moved  among 
them  as  a  private  gentleman,  conversing  with  one  and  an 
other  with  as  much  familiarity  as  he  would  have  done  in  his 
own  drawing-room  at  Mount  Vernon.  On  these  occasions, 
while  in  New  York,  he  wore  a  suit  of  brown  cloth  with 
bright  buttons,  and  had  neither  hat  nor  sword,  as  at  his  own 
receptions.  The  ladies  were  all  seated,  and  as  the  Presi- 


THE  PRESIDENT'S  RECEPTIONS.  271 

dent  passed  around  he  paid  his  compliments  to  each.  On 
these  occasions  Mrs.  Morris,  if  present,  always  sat  on  the 
right  of  Mrs.  Washington. 

At  the  beginning  of  these  ceremonials  at  New  York,  Mrs. 
Washington  would  not  allow  them  to  interfere  with  some  of 
the  life-long  habits  of  herself  and  husband.  The  reception 
was  never  allowed  to  extend  beyond  the  appointed  time. 
When  the  clock  in  the  hall  struck  nine  she  would  say  to 
those  present,  with  a  sweet,  complacent  smile,  "The  general 
always  retires  at  nine  o'clock,  and  I  usually  precede  him." 
In  a  few  minutes  the  drawing-room  would  be  closed,  the 
lights  would  be  extinguished,  and  the  presidential  mansion 
would  be  as  dark  and  quiet  before  ten  o'clock  as  the  house 
of  any  private  citizen.  After  the  Government  was  removed 
to  Philadelphia  the  next  year,  the  time  for  the  termination 
of  these  receptions  was  somewhat  extended.  Mrs.  Washing 
ton's  receptions  were  given  on  Friday  afternoons. 

The  President  held  his  levees  or  receptions  on  Tuesday 
afternoons,  from  three  to  four  o'clock.  These  were  numer 
ously  attended,  but  by  gentlemen  only.  The  President,  as 
we  have  observed,  wore  a  suit  of  brown  cloth  at  these  recep 
tions  while  in  New  York,  but  in  Philadelphia  he  was  always 
dressed  on  these  occasions  in  a  suit  of  black  velvet,  black 
silk  stockings,  silver  knee  and  shoe  buckles,  and  having  his 
hair  powdered,  and  tied  with  a  silk  bag  or  queue  behind. 
He  wore  yellow  gloves,  and  held  a  cocked  hat  in  his  hand 
with  a  cockade  upon  it,  and  adorned  with  a  black  feather 
about  an  inch  deep.  He  also  wore  an  elegant  dress-sword, 
the  scabbard  of  which  was  of  white  polished  leather.  The 
coat  was  worn  over  the  sword,  the  point  only  "of  the  scab 
bard  appearing  below  the  skirt. 


272  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

At  his  receptions  in  Philadelphia  the  President  "  always 
stood,"  wrote  an  eye-witness,  "  in  front  of  the  fireplace,  with 
his  face  towards  the  door  of  entrance.  The  visitor  was  con 
ducted  to  him,  and  he  required  the  name  to  be  so  distinctly 
pronounced  that  he  could  hear  it.  He  had  the  very  uncom 
mon  faculty  of  associating  a  man's  name  and  personal  ap 
pearance  so  durably  in  his  memory  as  to  be  able  to  call  any 
one  by  name  who  made  him  a  second  visit.  He  received 
his  visitor  with  a  dignified  bow,  while  his  hands  were  so  dis 
posed  as  to  indicate  that  the  salutation  was  not  to  be  ac 
companied  with  shaking  hands,  even  with  the  most  intimate 
friends,  that  no  distinction  might  be  made.  As  visitors 
came  in  they  formed  a  circle  around  the  room.  At  a  quar 
ter  past  three  the  door  was  closed  and  the  circle  was  formed 
for  that  day.  He  then  began  on  the  right  and  spoke  to 
each  visitor,  calling  him  by  name,  and  exchanging  a  few 
words  with  him.  When  he  had  completed  the  circuit  he  re 
sumed  his  first  position,  when  the  visitors  approached  him 
in  succession,  bowed,  and  retired.  By  four  o'clock  this  cer 
emony  was  over." 

During  the  sessions  of  Congress  there  was  a  Congres 
sional  dinner  at  the  presidential  mansion  every  Thursday. 
On  these  occasions  the  servants  all  wore  the  family  liveries. 
At  all  dinners  given  by  Washington,  public  or  private,  when 
Robert  Morris  was  present  he  always  occupied  a  seat  at  the 
right  of  Mrs.  Washington. 

It  was  customary  when  ladies  called  on  Mrs.  Washington 
for  the  private  secretary  of  the  President,  or  other  gentle 
man  of  the  household,  to  hand  them  from  and  to  their  car 
nages.  The  President  made  it  an  invariable  rule,  while  in 
New  York,  to  perform  these  complimentary  duties  himself 


SELECTION    OF    A    TITLE    FOR    THE    PRESIDENT.  273 

whenever  the  widows  of  Generals  Montgomery  and  Greene 
called. 

Before  the  inauguration  of  Washington,  the  subject  of  a 
title  for  the  President  occupied  the  attention  of  Congress. 
Each  House  appointed  a  committee  (April  23,  1789)  "to 
consider  and  report  what  style  or  title  it  will  be  proper  to 
annex  to  the  office  of  the  President  of  the  United  States." 
The  joint  committee  could  not  agree.  That  of  the  House 
reported  against  any  title;  that  of  the  Senate  proposed, 
His  Highness,  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
and  Protector  of  their  Liberties.  Meanwhile  the  public  out 
side  of  Congress  took  up  the  matter  and  freely  discussed  it. 
Some  of  the  newspapers  adopted  a  part  of  the  title  pro 
posed  by  the  Senate,  and  applied  the  title  of  Most  Honor 
able  to  Senators.  Also  the  title  of  High  Mightiness,  which 
was  given  to  the  supreme  ruler  of  Holland.  A  newspaper 
announcing  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Washington  at  New  York 
said  she  was  accompanied  by  the  "Lady  of  the  Most  Honor 
able  Robert  Morris''  General  Muhlenberg  said  Washington 
•  thought  well  of  the  title  High  Mightiness.  Dining  with  the 
President  one  day,  the  latter,  speaking  about  the  resolution 
before  the  two  Houses,  which  had  been  referred  to  him,  said 
to  Muhlenberg,  in  his  usual  dignified  manner,  "Well,  gen 
eral,  what  do  you  think  of  the  title  of  High  Mightiness  ?" 

Muhlenberg  answered,  laughing,  "  Why,  general,  if  we 
were  certain  that  the  office  would  always  be  held  by  men  as 
large  as  yourself  or  my  friend  Wynkoop  [a  large  gentleman 
from  Pennsylvania  sitting  at  the  table]  it  would  be  appro 
priate  enough,  but  if  by  chance  a  president  as  small  as  my 
opposite  neighbor  should  be  elected,  it  would  become  ridic 
ulous." 

18 


274  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

There  appears  to  be  sufficient  evidence  to  prove  that 
Washington  rather  preferred  to  be  addressed  simply  as  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States,  as  he  had  been  by  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  their  response  to  his  inaugural  speech. 

The  subject  of  Presidential  etiquette  was  a  matter  for 
serious  consideration.  There  was  no  suitable  precedent. 
It  was  desirable  to  combine  in  it  republican  simplicity  and 
proper  official  dignity.  To  Colonel  Humphreys,  who  had 
seen  some  court  etiquette  abroad,  was  referred  the  matter 
for  arrangement,  but  he  was  unequal  to  the  task.  He  pro 
posed  too  much  ceremony,  and  the  President  and  Mrs. 
Washington,  assisted  by  hints  from  Colonel  Hamilton,  with 
their  usual  application  of  common -sense,  performed  that 
task  for  themselves.  Simple  as  was  the  system  which  they 
adopted,  glimpses  of  which  I  have  just  given,  it  was  assailed 
with  vehemence  by  ultra-republicans  who  formed  the  leaders 
of  the  party  opposed  to  the  Constitution,  as  "  aping  royalty" 
and  other  offensive  epithets.  To  his  friend,  Dr.  Stuart,  who 
had  informed  him  of  some  harsh  criticism  in  Virginia  re 
specting  his  course,*  Washington  wrote  : 

*  Dr.  Stuart  said  in  his  letter  that  Patrick  Henry,  who  had  opposed 
the  adoption  of  the  National  Constitution,  declined  to  accept  the  nomi 
nation  for  a  seat  in  the  National  Senate  because,  he  said,  he  was  "  too 
old  to  fall  into  those  awkward  imitations  which  are  now  become  so 
fashionable."  "From  this  expression,"  wrote  Stuart,"!  suspect  the 
old  patriot  has  heard  some  extraordinary  representations  of  the  etiquette 
established  at  your  levees"  Alluding  to  a  person  who  had  made  ex 
travagant  representations  concerning  them,  he  said,  "  I  am  informed  by 
good  authority  that  he  represented  that  there  was  more  pomp  used  there 
than  at  St.  James's,  where  he  had  been,  and  that  your  bows  were  more 
distant  and  stiff.  This  happened  at  the  governor's  table  in  Richmond." 

Even  Jefferson  in  his  "Ana"  wrote:  "  When  the  President  went  to 


PRESIDENTIAL    ETIQUETTE.  275 

"  Before  the  custom  was  established  [receiving  visits  at 
stated  times],  which  now  accommodates  foreign  characters, 
strangers,  and  others,  who,  from  motives  of  curiosity,  respect 
to  the  Chief  Magistrate,  or  any  other  cause,  are  induced  to 
call  on  me,  I  was  unable  to  attend  to  any  business  whatso 
ever;  for  gentlemen,  consulting  their  own  convenience  rath 
er  than  mine,  were  calling  from  the  time  I  rose  from  break 
fast,  often  before,  until  I  sat  down  to  dinner.  This,  as  I 
resolved  not  to  neglect  my  public  duties,  reduced  me  to  one 
of  these  alternatives,  either  to  refuse  them  altogether,  or  to 
appropriate  a  time  for  the  reception  of  them.  The  former 
would,  I  well  knew,  be  disgusting  to  many;  the  latter  I  ex 
pected  would  undergo  animadversion  and  blaming  from  those 
who  would  find  fault  with  or  without  cause.  To  please  every 
body  was  impossible.  I  therefore  adopted  that  line  of  conduct 
which  combined  public  advantage  with  private  convenience, 
and  which,  in  my  judgment,  was  unexceptionable  in  itself." 

Referring  to  the  visits,  he  said,  "  They  are  optional.  They 
are  made  without  invitation.  Between  the  hours  of  three 

New  York,  he  resisted,  for  three  weeks,  the  effort  to  introduce  levees. 
At  length  he  yielded,  and  left  it  to  Humphreys  and  some  others  to  settle 
forms.  Accordingly  an  antechamber  and  presence-room  were  provided, 
and  when  those  who  were  to  pay  their  court  were  assembled,  the  Presi 
dent  set  out,  preceded  by  Humphreys.  After  passing  through  the  ante 
chamber,  the  door  of  the  inner  room  was  thrown  open,  and  Humphreys 
entered  first,  calling  out  with  a  loud  voice,  '  The  President  of  the  United 
States !'  The  President  was  so  much  disconcerted  by  it  that  he  did  not 
recover  in  the  whole  time  of  the  levee;  and  when  the  company  was  gone 
he  said  to  Humphreys,  '  Well,  you  have  taken  me  in  once,  but,  by  God, 
you  shall  never  take  me  in  a  second  time.'  " 

The  account  given  of  these  receptions   in  the  text  shows  how  abso 
lutely  erroneous  are  Mr.  Jefferson's  observations. 


276  MARTHA,  THE   WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

and  four  every  Tuesday  I  am  prepared  to  receive  them. 
Gentlemen,  often  in  great  numbers,  come  and  go,  chat  with 
each  other,  and  act  as  they  please.  A  porter  shows  them 
into  the  room,  and  they  retire  from  it  when  they  please,  and 
without  ceremony.  At  their  first  entrance  they  salute  me, 
and  I  them,  and  as  many  as  I  can  talk  to  I  do.  What  pomp 
there  is  in  all  this  I  am  unable  to  discover.  Perhaps  it  con 
sists  in  not  sitting.  To  this  two  reasons  are  opposed ;  first, 
it  is  unusual ;  secondly,  which  is  a  more  substantial  one,  be 
cause  I  have  no  room  large  enough  to  contain  a  third  of  the 
chairs  which  would  be  sufficient  to  admit  it.  ...  Similar  to 
the  above,  but  of  a  more  sociable  kind,  are  the  visits  every 
Friday  afternoon  to  Mrs.  Washington,  where  I  always  am."* 
These  public  meetings,  and  a  dinner  once  a  week  to  as 
many  as  their  table  would  hold,  constituted  the  "pomp"  of 
the  Republican  court.  "  I  can  truly  say,"  wrote  Washing 
ton  in  the  same  letter,  "  I  had  rather  be  at  Mount  Vernon 
with  a  friend  or  two  about  me,  than  to  be  attended  at  the 
seat  of  government  by  the  officers  of  State  and  the  repre 
sentatives  of  every  power  in  Europe." 

*  Among  other  things  determined  upon  was  a  method  for  relieving 
the  President  of  the  character  of  a  private  citizen,  which  has  been  ob 
served  until  the  present  time.  It  was  determined  that  he  should  not 
return  any  visits.  This  rule  was  strictly  adhered  to.  In  his  diary  he 
wrote:  "  Received  an  invitation  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Roose 
velt,  the  wife  of  a  senator  of  this  State  [New  York],  but  declined  com 
plying  with  it— first,  because  the  propriety  of  accepting  any  invitation  of 
this  sort  appeared  very  questionable,  and  secondly  (though  to  do  it  in 
this  instance  might  not  be  improper),  because  it  might  be  difficult  to  dis 
criminate  in  cases  which  might  thereafter  happen." 

These  restrictions  did  not  apply  to  Mrs.  Washington,  yet  her  visits 
were  very  few,  for  she  preferred  the  quiet  of  home  life,  though  it  was 
now  intimately  connected  with  public  life. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

MRS.  WASHINGTON,  as  we  have  observed,  like  her  illustri 
ous  husband,  left  the  delightful  home  on  the  Potomac  with 
the  greatest  reluctance.  She  endured  the  excitement,  tur 
moil,  care,  and  restraints  of  public  life  as  a  sort  of  patriotic 
and  dutiful  martyrdom  requiring  much  patience  and  forti 
tude,  and  she  looked  forward  to  retirement  from  it  with  a 
sincere  longing  as  a  coveted  blessing.  She  always  spoke  of 
the  time  when  she  was  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia — 
"  the  first  lady  of  the  Republic  "—as  her  "  lost  days."  She 
was  compelled  to  be  governed  by  prescribed  etiquette,  and 
was  very  restive  under  the  restraint.  To  the  wife  of  the  gen 
eral's  nephew,  her  niece,  who  was  left  in  charge  of  domestic 
affairs  at  Mount  Vernon,  she  wrote  from  New  York : 

"  Mrs.  Sims  will  give  you  a  better  account  of  the  fashions 
than  I  can.  I  live  a  very  dull  life  here,  and  know  nothing 
that  passes  in  the  town.  I  never  go  to  any  public  place — 
indeed,  I  am  more  like  a  State  prisoner  than  anything  else. 
There  are  certain  bounds  set  for  me  which  I  must  not  depart 
from,  and  as  I  cannot  do  as  I  like,  I  am  obstinate  and  stay 
at  home  a  great  deal." 

From  Mrs.  Mercy  Warren,  with  whom  she  had  correspond 
ed  ever  since  she  was  in  Cambridge,  thirteen  years  before, 
Mrs.  Washington  received  a  letter  expressing  regret  that 
she  did  not  accompany  her  husband  on  his  eastern  tour  in 


278  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

the  autumn  of   1789.     Mrs.  Washington's  letter  in  reply, 
more  than  any  other  of  hers  known  to  be  in  existence,*  re- 


*  The  letters  of  Martha  Washington  which  are  still  in  existence  are 
very  few  in  number.  Before  her  death  she  destroyed  the  entire  corre 
spondence  between  herself  and  husband,  and  it  is  said  that  several  years 
ago  her  letters  written  to  her  relatives,  particularly  those  addressed  to 
her  mother  and  her  brother  and  sister  in  New  Kent,  were  also  destroyed 
by  those  of  her  family  who  possessed  them.  In  both  these  instances  the 
motive  for  the  destruction  seems  to  have  been  the  laudable  one  of  pre 
venting  this  private  correspondence,  in  all  its  freedom  and  simplicity  of 
expressions,  being  published  to  the  world.  "  This,"  wrote  the  late  G. 
W.  P.  Custis,  her  grandson,"  proves  the  depth  and  purity  of  her  love  for 
her  husband.  She  would  not  permit  that  the  confidence  they  had  shared 
together  should  become  public  ;  it  would  be  desecrating  their  chaste 
loves,  and,  perhaps,  some  word  or  expression  might  be  misinterpreted  to 
his  disadvantage." 

The  authors  of  these  letters  have  happily  escaped  the  cruel  ordeal  to 
which  the  domestic  privacy  of  the  lives  of  distinguished  persons  is  often 
laid  bare,  to  appease  the  morbid  appetites  of  the  hungry  host  of  readers 
who  delight  to  feast  on  such  aliment. 

Many  years  ago,  while  seeking  additional  materials  for  the  Life  of 
General  Schuyler,  I  called  upon  General  Van  Rensselaer,  at  the  Manor- 
house,  in  Albany,  whose  father,  the  "  Patroon,"  was  General  Schuyler's 
executor.  He  took  me  to  the  office  of  the  estate,  and  directed  Mr.  Lan 
sing,  his  confidential  clerk,  to  let  me  have  whatever  materials  I  might 
choose  for  my  purpose.  After  the  general  retired,  Mr.  Lansing  told  me 
that  it  was  doubtful  if  there  was  anything  worth  having  among  the 
Schuyler  papers,  for  they  were  wholly  of  a  business  nature.  When  the 
papers  were  brought  to  the  office  from  the  Manor-house,  General  Van 
Rensselaer  directed  Mr.  Lansing  to  examine  them  with  great  care,  pre 
serve  all  business  papers  and  destroy  the  remainder.  He  did  so.  He 
found  a  most  valuable  and  interesting  correspondence  between  General 
Schuyler,  General  Hamilton,  and  a  large  number  of  others,  chiefly  on 
political  subjects,  in  which  all  parties  indulged  freely  in  remarks  upon 


LETTER   TO    MERCY   WARREN.  279 

veals  the  character  of  her  understanding,  her  heart,  and  her 
wisdom.  Its  tenor  is  in  consonance  with  the  topic  here  no 
ticed.  She  wrote  : 

"  Your  very  friendly  letter,  of  last  month,  has  afforded  me 
much  more  satisfaction  than  all  the  formal  compliments  and 
empty  ceremonies  of  mere  etiquette  could  possibly  have 
done.  I  am  not  apt  to  forget  the  feelings  which  have  been 
inspired  by  my  former  society  with  good  acquaintances,  nor 
to  be  insensible  to  their  expressions  of  gratitude  to  the 
President,  for  you  know  me  well  enough  to  do  me  the  jus 
tice  to  believe  that  I  am  fond  only  of  what  comes  from  the 
heart.  Under  a  conviction  that  the  demonstrations  of  re 
spect  and  affection  to  him  originate  in  that  source,  I  cannot 
deny  that  I  have  taken  some  interest  and  pleasure  in  them. 
The  difficulties  which  presented  themselves  to  view  upon 
his  first  entering  upon  the  Presidency  seem  thus  to  be,  in 
some  measure,  surmounted.  It  is  owing  to  the  kindness  of 
our  numerous  friends,  in  all  quarters,  that  my  new  and  un- 
wished-for  situation  is  not,  indeed,  a  burden  to  me.  When 
I  was  much  younger  I  should  probably  have  enjoyed  the  in 
nocent  gayeties  of  life  as  much  as  most  persons  of  my  age ; 
but  I  had  long  since  placed  all  the  prospects  of  my  future 
worldly  happiness  in  the  still  enjoyments  of  the  fireside  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

"  I  little  thought  when  the  war  was  finished  that  any  cir 
cumstances  could  possibly  happen  which  would  call  the 

the  character  of  various  public  men  of  the  time.  It  was  to  prevent  this 
correspondence  finding  its  way  to  the  public,  and  so,  perhaps,  inflicting 
pain  upon  the  living,  that  General  Van  Rensselaer  ordered  it  to  be 
burned.  A  vast  amount  of  the  secret  political  history  of  the  State  of 
New  York  was  thus  consigned  to  oblivion. 


280  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

General  into  public  life  again.  I  had  anticipated  that,  from 
that  moment,  we  should  be  suffered  to  grow  old  together,  in 
solitude  and  tranquillity.  That  was  the  first  and  dearest 
wish  of  my  heart.  I  will  not,  however,  contemplate  with  too 
much  regret  disappointments  that  were  inevitable;  though 
his  feelings  and  my  own  were  in  perfect  unison  with  respect 
to  our  predilections  for  private  life,  yet  I  cannot  blame  him 
for  having  acted  according  to  his  ideas  of  duty  in  obeying 
the  voice  of  his  country.  The  consciousness  of  having  at 
tempted  to  do  all  the  good  in  his  power,  and  the  pleasure  of 
finding  his  fellow-citizens  so  well  satisfied  with  the  disinter 
estedness  of  his  conduct,  will  doubtless  be  some  compensa 
tion  for  the  great  sacrifices  which  I  know  he  has  made.  In 
deed,  on  his  journey  from  Mount  Vernon  to  this  place,  on  his 
late  tour  through  the  Eastern  States,  by  every  public  and 
every  private  information  which  has  come  to  him,  I  am  per 
suaded  he  has  experienced  nothing  to  make  him  repent  his 
having  acted  from  what  he  conceives  to  be  a  sense  of  indis 
pensable  duty.  On  the  contrary,  all  his  sensibility  has  been 
awakened  on  receiving  such  repeated  and  unequivocal  proofs 
of  sincere  regard  from  his  countrymen. 

"With  respect  to  myself,  I  sometimes  think  the  arrange 
ment  is  not  quite  as  it  ought  to  have  been,  that  I,  who  had 
much  rather  be  at  home,  should  occupy  a  place  with  which  a 
great  many  younger  and  gayer  women  would  be  extremely 
pleased.  As  my  grandchildren  and  domestic  connections 
make  up  a  great  portion  of  the  felicity  which  I  looked  for  in 
this  world,  I  shall  hardly  be  able  to  find  any  substitute  that 
will  indemnify  me  for  the  loss  of  such  endearing  society.  I 
do  not  say  this  because  I  feel  dissatisfied  with  my  present 
station,  for  everybody  and  everything  conspire  to  make  me 


SOCIETY    IN    NEW   YORK.  281 

as  content  as  possible  in  it;  yet  I  have  learned  too  much  of 
the  vanity  of  human  affairs  to  expect  felicity  from  the  scenes 
of  public  life.  I  am  still  determined  to  be  cheerful  and  hap 
py  in  whatever  situation  I  may  be;  for  I  have  also  learned 
from  experience  that  the  greater  part  of  our  happiness  or 
misery  depends  on  our  dispositions  and  not  on  our  circum 
stances.  We  carry  the  seeds  of  the  one  or  the  other  about 
with  us  in  our  minds  wherever  we  go. 

"  I  have  two  of  my  grandchildren  with  me,  who  enjoy  ad 
vantages,  in  point  of  education,  and  who,  I  trust,  by  the 
goodness  of  Providence,  will  be  a  great  blessing  to  me. 
My  other  two  grandchildren  are  with  their  mother  in  Vir 
ginia." 

In  her  reply  to  this  letter,  in  allusion  to  a  passage  in  Mrs. 
Washington's  epistle,  Mrs.  Warren  wrote  :  "  Your  observa 
tions  may  be  true,  that  many  younger  and  gayer  ladies  con 
sider  your  situation  as  enviable ;  yet  I  know  not  one  who, 
by  general  consent,  would  be  more  likely  to  obtain  the  suf 
frages  of  the  sex,  even  were  they  to  canvass  at  election  for 
the  elevated  station,  than  the  lady  who  now  holds  the  first 
rank  in  the  United  States." 

New  York  at  this  time  was  noted  for  its  charming  society, 
intellectual  and  social.  The  leaders  were  found  among 
those  who  held  manorial  estates — the  Livingstons,  the  Beek- 
mans,  the  Van  Rensselaers,  the  Van  Cortlandts,  the  Phil- 
lipses,  the  De  Lanceys,  the  Jays,  and  other  powerful  and  in 
fluential  families,  distinguished  for  wealth  and  position. 

There  were  expectations  of  a  gay  season  after  the  inaugu 
ration,  but  there  was  disappointment.  The  tardy  arrival  of 
Mrs.  Washington,  the  severe  illness  of  the  President  immedi 
ately  afterwards,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  late  in  summer 


282  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

prevented  Washington's  attendance  at  any  ball  after  the  one 
given  by  the  French  minister  on  the  yth  of  May.  Mrs. 
Washington,  who  had  little  inclination  to  participate  in  the 
mere  amusements  of  society,  was  never  present  at  a  public 
ball  during  her  residence  in  New  York.  She  was  sometimes 
present,  with  her  husband,  at  the  dancing  assemblies,  but 
always  retired  by  ten  o'clock.  But  she,  as  well  as  Wash 
ington,  was  fond  of  the  drama,  and  they  attended  plays  at 
the  little  theatre  in  John  Street  (which  could  accommodate 
only  about  three  hundred  persons)  on  several  occasions. 
The  first  time  they  were  present  was  just  after  Washington's 
return  from  his  eastern  tour.  In  his  diary,  under  date  of 
November  24,  1789,  he  wrote  : 

"  A  good  deal  of  company  at  the  levee  to-day.  Went  to 
the  play  in  the  evening.  Sent  tickets  to  the  following  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  and  invited  them  to  seats  in  my  box,  viz. : 
Mrs.  Adams,  lady  of  the  Vice-president,  General  Schuyler 
and  Lady,  Mr.  King  and  Lady,  Major  Butler  and  Lady,  Colo 
nel  Hamilton  and  Lady,  Mrs.  Greene — all  of  whom  accepted 
and  came,  except  Mrs.  Butler,  who  was  indisposed." 

The  President  had  been  waited  upon  by  the  manager,  Mr. 
Wignell,  a  few  days  before,  who  invited  him  to  attend  the 
theatre,  with  his  friends.  He  was  requested  to  choose  the 
play.  "  The  Poor  Soldier  "  was  selected,  in  which  Wignell 
took  the  part  of  Darby.  In  order  to  give  the  play  more 
freshness  and  piquancy,  Wignell  employed  Dunlap,  the  young 
artist  and  dramatist,  to  write  an  interlude,  which  he  called 
"  Darby's  Return."  Darby  was  an  Irish  lad  who  recounted 
his  experience  in  New  York.  Describing  the  change  in 
the  Government  and  the  inauguration  of  the  President,  he 
said: 


AT   THE    THEATRE.  283 

"  There,  too,  I  saw  some  mighty  pritty  shows ; 
A  revolution,  without  blood  or  blows, 
For,  as  I  understand,  the  cunning  elves, 
The  people,  all  revolted  from  themselves." 

Washington  smiled,  but  he  looked  grave  and  uneasy,  ex 
pecting  some  personal  adulation,  which  always  annoyed  him, 
when  Darby,  alluding  to  the  President  at  the  inauguration, 
said: 

"  A  man  who  fought  to  free  the  land  from  woe, 
Like  me,  had  left  his  farm  a  soldiering  to  go, 
But  having  gained  his  point,  he  had,  like  me, 
Returned,  his  own  potato  ground  to  see, 
But  there  he  would  not  rest ;  with  one  accord 
He's  called  to  be  a  kind  of — not  a  lord — 
I  don't  know  what;  he's  not  a  great  man,  sure, 
For  poor  men  love  him  just  as  he  were  poor, 
They  love  him  like  a  father  or  a  brother—" 

But  when  Kathleen  here  broke  in  and  asked, 

"  How  looked  he,  Darby  ?  was  he  stout  or  tall  ?" 

and  Darby  answered  that  he  had  not  seen  him,  because  he 
had  mistaken  a  man 

"  All  lace  and  glitter,  botherum  and  shine," 

for  the  President,  until  the  show  had  passed,  there  was  a 
burst  of  merriment  from  the  audience,  in  which  Washington 
and  his  party  heartily  joined. 

The  orchestra  on  that  occasion  introduced  a  fresh  and 
pleasing  feature  into  their  performance.  Mr.  Fayles,  a  Ger 
man  musician,  had,  at  the  request  of.  manager  Wignell,  com 
posed  a  piece  of  music  called  "  The  President's  March." 
It  was  lively  and  stately  in  character,  and  was  played  for 


284  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

the  first  time  on  the  occasion  we  are  considering,  when  the 
general  with  Mrs.  Washington  led  the  way  into  his  stage  box. 
This  circumstance  intensified  the  applause  which  greeted 
the  President.  So  soon  as  this  march  was  played,  the  audi 
ence,  which  held  many  soldiers  and  sailors,  called  with  a 
hundred  voices  for  their  favorite  air,  "  Washington's  March," 
which  the  fife  and  drum  had  made  familiar  to  their  ears. 
"The  President's  March"  is  now  known  as  "Hail  Colum 
bia,"  the  song  (so  called  from  the  first  two  words  of  its  first 
line)  having  been  adapted  to  the  air. 

When  the  first  session  of  the  First  Congress  adjourned, 
at  the  close  of  September,  Washington  resolved  to  visit  the 
Eastern  States  during  the  recess  of  the  National  Legislature. 
He  desired  Mrs.  Washington  to  accompany  him  on  this  tour, 
but  she  would  not  relinquish  the  care  of  her  grandchildren 
even  for  so  brief  a  period  as  the  journey  promised  to  occu 
py.  She  remained  at  the  presidential  mansion  during  her 
husband's  absence. 

The  President  left  New  York  on  the  morning  of  the  15* 
of  October,  1789,  in  his  chariot  drawn  by  four  spirited  bay 
horses,  which  were  raised  at  Mount  Vernon.  He  was  ac 
companied  by  his  two  secretaries,  Tobias  Lear  and  Major 
William  Jackson,  on  horseback.  The  chief-justice  (John 
Jay)  Colonel  Hamilton,  General  Knox,  and  one  or  two  other 
gentlemen  rode  with  them  as  far  as  Rye,  in  Westchester 
County.  His  tour  extended  as  far  east  as  Portsmouth,  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  returning  he  reached  New  York  on 
the  i3th  of  November.  In  his  diary  for  that  day  he  wrote  : 
"  Breakfasted  at  Hoyt's,  this  side  of  Kingsbridge,  and  be 
tween  two  and  three  o'clock  arrived  at  my  house,  where  I 
found  Mrs.  Washington  and  the  rest  of  the  family  all  well 


THE  "FOURTEEN  MILES  ROUND."  287 

and  it  being  Mrs.  Washington's  night  to  receive  visits,  a 
pretty  large  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  present." 

The  President  had  avoided  Rhode  Island  in  this  tour,  be 
cause  that  State  had  not  ratified  the  National  Constitution, 
and  it  was  considered  as  an  essentially  foreign  common 
wealth.  It  entered  the  union  in  May  the  next  year,  and  the 
President  visited  it  in  the  autumn  following,  proceeding  by 
water  from  New  York  to  Newport  in  quest  of  benefit  to  his 
health. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  New  York,  in  the  spring  of  1789, 
the  President  ordered  a  coach  from  England.  It  was  not 
received  until  near  the  close  of  the  year.  The  first  men 
tion  of  it  in  his  diary  was  on  December  i2th:  "Exercised 
in  the  coach  with  Mrs.  Washington  and  the  two  children 
(Master  and  Miss  Custis),  between  breakfast  and  dinner — 
went  the  fourteen  miles  round."*  Previous  to  this  date  he 
mentioned  riding  in  "a  coach" — probably  a  hired  one — and 
in  the  "post-chaise,"  the  vehicle  in  which  he  usually  trav 
elled  between  Mount  Vernon  and  New  York. 

The  English  coach  was  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city,  and 
attracted  much  attention  when  abroad  with  the  President 
and  his  family.  It  was  drawn  by  four  spirited  bay  horses, 
governed  by  a  driver  and  a  postilion,  both  in  livery,  and 
accompanied  by  outriders.  The  coach  was  of  a  cream 
color,  and  was  suspended  on  heavy  leather  straps  resting 

*  The  "fourteen  miles  round"  was  by  the  old  Kingsbridge  Road, 
which  passed  over  Murray  Hill,  where  Lexington  Avenue  now  does,  to 
McGowan's  Pass,  at  about  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Street;  then  across, 
on  a  line  with  the  Harlem  River  to  Bloomingdale,  near  the  Hudson, 
and  so  down  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  island  by  the  Bloomingdale 
road  and  the  Broadway. 


288 


MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


upon  iron  springs.     The  upper  part,  sides,  front,  and  rear, 
was  furnished  with  Venetian  blinds  and  black  leather  cur 
tains.     Upon  each  door  the  Washington  arms  were  embla 
zoned,  and  upon  the  panels 
on  each  side   of  the  doors 
were  designs  emblematic  of 
the  four  seasons,  painted  on 
copper,  on    a    dark    green 
ground,  by   the    celebrated 
Italian  artist,  Cipriani.* 

In  compliance  with  a  pre 
vailing  custom  at  New  York 
of  receiving  social  calls  on 
New-year's-day  —  a  custom 
established  by  the  Dutch 
and  confirmed  by  the  Hu- 

FANEL   ON   WASHINGTON'S   COACH.  gUCUOtS— tllC      President     YQ- 

ceived  formal  visits  between 

the  hours  of  one  and  three  o'clock  from  the  Vice-president, 
the  cabinet  ministers,  the  Governor  of  New  York,  the  sec- 


*  At  the  sale  of  Washington's  effects  at  Mount  Vernon,  after  the 
death  of  his  widow,  this  coach  was  purchased  by  the  late  G.  W.  P.  Cus- 
tis.  It  finally  became  the  property  of  the  late  Bishop  Meade,  of  Vir 
ginia.  Becoming  unfit  for  use,  the  bishop  had  it  taken  apart,  and  pieces 
of  it  were  distributed  among  his  friends,  also  among  associations  of 
ladies  for  benevolent  and  religious  objects,  who,  at  their  fairs,  sold  frag 
ments  made  into  walking-sticks,  picture-frames,  and  snuffboxes.  I  have 
a  snuffbox  made  of  a  piece  of  one  of  the  spokes.  About  two-thirds  of 
one  of  the  wheels  thus  produced  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars.  The 
old  coach  probably  yielded  more  to  the  cause  of  charity  than  it  cost  the 
builder  at  its  first  erection. 


THE  PRESIDENT'S  HOUSE  IN  NEW  YORK.  289 

retaries  and  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  for 
eigners  of  distinction,  and  "  all  the  respectable  citizens." 
Towards  evening  Mrs.  Washington  also  had  a  reception  for 
about  three  hours.  Never  before  were  so  many  ladies  and 
gentlemen  at  one  of  her  levees.  The  weather  was  glorious  ; 
the  air  was  as  balmy  as  in  mid-May.  For  a  generation  there 
had  not  been  so  mild  a  winter  at  New  York.  Farmers  and 
gardeners  on  Manhattan  Island  were  cultivating  the  land  in 
January,  and  ladies  appeared  at  Mrs.  Washington's  recep 
tion  in  summer  dresses.  The  evening  was  made  delightful 
out-of-doors  by  the  light  of  the  full  moon,  and  charming  in 
the  presidential  mansion  by  the  gracious  hospitality  of  its 
mistress.  Chairs  were  provided  for  the  ladies,  and  livened 
servants  dispensed  tea  and  coffee,  and  plain  and  plum  cake, 
among  the  guests.  Ice-cream,  the  favorite  delicacy  of  to 
day,  was  then  unknown. 

The  President's  house  in  Cherry  Street  became  too  small 
for  the  increasing  demands  of  official  business  and  social 
requirements,  and  at  the  close  of  February,  1790,  Washing 
ton  removed  with  his  household  to  the  more  spacious  dwell 
ing  of  Mr.  Macomb,  on  Broadway,  a  little  below  Trinity 
Church,  which  had  been  lately  occupied  by  the  French  min 
ister.  The  situation  was  delightful.  There  were  grassy 
slopes  from  the  house  to  the  Hudson  River,  and  far  away 
to  the  westward  spread  out  the  fields  and  forests  of  New 
Jersey.  There  the  President  and  his  family  lived,  and  Mrs. 
Washington  entertained  until  the  following  autumn,  when 
the  seat  of  government  was  removed  from  New  York  to 
Philadelphia,  and  fixed  there  for  ten  years.  Previous  to  this 
removal  Washington  had  sat  for  his  portrait  several  times 
to  Col.  John  Trumbull,  for  the  artist's  use  in  painting  his 

I9 


290 


MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


pictures  of  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton.     In  these 
pictures  Trumbull  represented  Washington  on  horseback. 

The  private  life  of  the  President  and  his  family  while  in 
New  York  was  exceedingly  simple,  and  furnished  the  only 
solace  for  himself  and  Mrs.  Washington  for  their  depriva 
tion  of  the  quiet,  domestic  bliss  which  they  always  enjoyed 


THE  PRESIDENT'S  MANSION  (MACOMB'S),  ON  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK. 

at  Mount  Vernon.  Every  evening,  excepting  that  of  Friday, 
they  spent  alone  with  the  children  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lear, 
who  formed  a  part  of  the  family.  This  privacy  was  seldom 
disturbed  by  a  visitor,  for  the  desires  and  habits  of  the  fam 
ily  were  generally  known.  Mr.  Lear,  and  sometimes  Wash 
ington  himself,  would  read  aloud  something  entertaining  to 
the  whole  family.  On  the  retirement  of  Mrs.  Washington 
at  nine  o'clock,  the  President  went  to  his  library  and  re 
mained  there  an  hour,  when  he,  too,  would  go  to  his  cham 
ber.  He  always  arose  at  daybreak,  and  busied  himself  in 
his  library  until  the  breakfast  hour. 

As  a  rule,  visitors  were  not  received  at  the  presidential 


STRICT   OBSERVANCE    OF    THE    SABBATH.  291 

mansion  on  Sundays;  but  there  was  one  description  of 
visitors  which  was  welcomed  there  on  all  days.  These  were 
the  veteran  soldiers,  who  repaired  to  "head -quarters,"  as 
they  said,  just  to  inquire  after  the  health  of  his  Excellency 
and  Lady  Washington.  All  were  kindly  received,  and  many 
of  them  were  conducted  to  the  steward's  apartments  and 
received  refreshments.  On  their  departure,  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  would  bestow  upon  them  some  token  of  her  regard,  and 
would  express  wishes  for  their  health  and  happiness.  They 
went  away,  often  with  tearful  eyes,  invoking  blessings  upon 
their  beloved  commander  and  the  good  Lady  Washington. 

On  Sundays  the  whole  family  attended  St.  Paul's  Church 
in  the  morning.  Mrs.  Washington  often  attended  divine 
service  with  the  children  in  the  afternoon.  The  President 
usually  remained  in  his  library  most  of  the  afternoon,  and 
devoted  the  time  to  his  private  correspondence.  In  the 
evening  he  read  a  sermon  or  some  devotional  work  aloud 
to  the  family,  and  closed  the  day  by  reading  a  portion  of 
the  sacred  Scriptures  to  Mrs.  Washington  in  her  own  apart 
ment.  These  domestic  habits  were  practised  also  at  Phila 
delphia.  Private  tutors  were  always  employed  in  the  edu 
cation  of  the  children,  but  Mrs.  Washington  was  their  ever- 
present  "governess,"  giving  direction  to  their  minds  and 
morals. 

The  subject  of  the  place  of  permanent  residence  for  the 
National  Government  occupied  the  attention  of  Congress 
from  the  beginning.  States  and  towns  offered  inducements 
for  the  location  of  the  political  metropolis  within  their  bor 
ders.  Congress  finally  agreed  that  some  point  on  the  bank 
of  the  Potomac  River  should  be  selected  for  the  seat  of 
government.  The  choice  of  the  site  was  left  to  the  Presi- 


2Q2  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

dent.  It  was  also  agreed  that  during  ten  years  from  the 
close  of  1790,  while  awaiting  the  laying  out  of  the  capital 
city  and  erecting  the  necessary  public  buildings,  Philadel 
phia  should  be  the  metropolis  of  the  nation.  This  decision 
produced  great  dissatisfaction  among  the  inhabitants  of 
New  York,  for  it  was  a  severe  blow  against  the  rapidly  in 
creasing  prosperity  of  that  city.  The  Philadelphians  were 
naturally  much  elated,  and  the  prices  of  real  estate  and  al 
most  everything  else  in  that  city  immediately  advanced. 

Robert  Morris  had  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  securing 
the  removal  of  the  government  to  Philadelphia,  and  against 
him  were  levelled  the  keenest  shafts  of  wit  and  satire  with 
pen  and  pencil.  A  caricature  was  published  in  which  Mor 
ris  was  seen  marching  off  with  the  "Federal  Hall"  upon 
his  shoulders,  its  windows  crowded  with  members  of  both 
Houses  of  Congress,  some  encouraging,  some  cursing  the 
movement,  while  the  Devil,  from  the  roof  of  the  Paulus 
Hook  ferry-house  beckoned  to  him  in  a  patronizing  manner, 
crying,  "  This  way,  Bobby  !"  ' 

The  second  session  of  the  First  Congress,  the  last  ever 


*  The  heads  of  departments  and  members  of  Congress  were  disap 
pointed  in  going  to  Philadelphia,  especially  the  prudent  ones  from  the 
Eastern  States,  and  regretted  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government 
from  New  York.  The  temper  of  some  of  thorn  seems  to  have  been 
soured.  They  found  the  prices  of  everything  vastly  greater  than  in 
New  York,  and  this  fact  caused  some  pretty  severe  commentaries. 
Oliver  Wolcott  wrote,  "The  people  of  this  State  seem  very  proud  of 
their  city,  their  wealth,  and  their  supposed  knowledge.  I  have  seen 
many  of  their  principal  men,  and  discover  nothing  that  tempts  me  to 
idolatry."  James  Monroe  said,  "  The  city  seems  at  present  to  be  mostly 
inhabited  by  sharpers."  Jeremiah  Smith,  of  New  Hampshire,  wrote, 
"  The  Philadelphians  are,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  from  the  par- 


WASHINGTON'S  VISIT  TO  NEWPORT.  293 

held  in  New  York,  closed  on  the  1 2th  of  August,  1790,  and 
two  days  afterwards  the  President  sailed  for  Newport,  R.  I., 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  Governor  Clinton,  some 
members  of  Congress,  Colonel  Humphreys,  and  Major  Jack 
son.  This  voyage  was  undertaken  for  the  double  purpose, 
as  has  been  observed,  of  a  quest  for  renewed  health  and  to 
make  a  visit  to  Rhode  Island,  which  had  recently  entered 
the  Union,  the  President  having  avoided  it  while  on  his 
eastern  tour. 

Washington  and  his  company  arrived  at  Newport  on  the 
morning  of  the  iyth,  where  they  were  received  with  every 
mark  of  respect.  They  were  entertained  at  a  public  ban 
quet  at  the  State-house.  From  Newport  they  sailed  up  to 
Providence,  where  they  were  also  entertained  ;  and  then  they 
departed  for  New  York,  arriving  there  on  the  2ist.  The 
President's  health  was  much  improved  by  the  sea-voyage. 
He  had  endured  much  sickness  since  his  inauguration. 

son  in  his  black  gown  to  the///^  dejoie,  or  girl  of  pleasure,  a  set  of  beg 
gars.  You  cannot  turn  round  without  paying  a  dollar."  Mrs.  John 
Adams,  wife  of  the  Vice-president,  wrote  concerning  the  discomforts  of 
the  house  she  occupied,  and  said.  "  Mr.  Lear  was  in  to  see  me  yester 
day,  and  assures  me  that  I  am  much  better  off  than  Mrs.  Washington 
will  be  when  she  arrives,  for  that  their  house  is  not  likely  to  be  com 
pleted  this  year.  And  when  all  is  done  it  will  not  be  Broadway  !  If 
New  York  wanted  any  revenge  for  the  removal,  the  citizens  might  be 
glutted  if  they  would  come  here,  where  every  article  has  risen  to  almost 
double  its  price,  and  where  it  is  not  possible  for  Congress  and  their  ap 
pendages,  for  a  long  time,  to  be  half  as  well  accommodated." 

But  while  men  grumbled  and  scolded,  the  women  were  generally 
pleased  with  Philadelphia,  because  of  its  order  and  cleanliness,  sociabil 
ity,  and  even  gayety.  This  was  especially  the  case  after  the  season  for 
parties  and  balls  had  begun. 


294  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  Within  the  last  twelve  months,"  he  wrote  to  a  friend,  "  I 
have  undergone  more  and  severer  sickness  than  thirty  pre 
ceding  years  afflicted  me  with." 

During  the  President's  absence,  Mrs.  Washington,  with  a 
joyous  heart,  had  made  all  necessary  preparations  for  their 
departure  for  Mount  Vernon,  from  which  they  had  been 
exiled  fifteen  months.  On  the  day  before  that  happy  de 
parture  they  entertained  at  dinner  Governor  Clinton  and 
his  wife,  the  mayor  and  corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  one  or  two  other  distinguished  persons.  They  sat  long 
at  table.  The  President  and  his  family  were  about  to  leave 
the  transient  seat  of  government,  perhaps  forever,  and  many 
topics  for  conversation  and  discussion  were  presented  for 
consideration. 

It  was  the  desire  and  the  intention  of  the  President  to 
leave  the  city  the  next  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  without  cere 
mony,  and  he  believed  that  purpose  would  be  accomplished 
when  the  city  seemed  as  quiet  as  usual  at  early  morning. 
He  was  destined  to  disappointment.  Unheralded  and  un 
expected,  before  the  time  fixed  for  departure,  Governor 
Clinton  and  his  suite,  the  State  officers,  the  municipal 
authorities,  the  clergy,  members  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincin 
nati,  and  many  leading  citizens,  pursuant  to  a  secret  pre- 
arrangement,  appeared  at  the  presidential  mansion,  accom 
panied  by  a  band  of  music.  These,  by  permission,  formed 
an  escort  for  the  President  and  his  family  to  the  landing  at 
Whitehall,  where  the  beautiful  barge  which  had  brought  the 
general  and  Mrs.  Washington  to  the  city  was  in  waiting  to 
receive  them.  The  moment  the  honored  family  entered  the 
barge  they  were  saluted  by  thirteen  discharges  of  cannon 
and  the  huzzas  of  a  great  multitude  of  citizens  who  had  has- 


JOURNEY   TO    PHILADELPHIA.  295 

tened  to  the  spot.  To  this  salutation  the  President,  stand 
ing  erect  in  the  barge,  with  a  voice  tremulous  with  emotion, 
bade  the  company  farewell.  This  was  the  final  farewell  to 
New  York  by  the  President  and  his  wife,  for  they  never  saw 
that  city  again.  Governor  Clinton,  Chief-justice  Jay,  Gen 
eral  Knox,  Colonel  Hamilton,  and  the  mayor  of  New  York, 
accompanied  them  in  the  barge  as  far  as  Paulus  Hook,  on 
the  Jersey  shore,  where  they  entered  their  English  coach, 
drawn  by  six  horses,  and  proceeded  to  Liberty  Hall,  the 
seat  of  Governor  Livingston,  where  they  dined. 

The  driver  of  the  coach  was  incompetent  to  manage  such 
a  team,  and  before  they  reached  Elizabethtown  he  ran  it 
into  a  gully  and  nearly  overturned  it.  It  was  considerably 
injured.  The  driver  was  transferred  to  the  baggage-wagon, 
which  he  upset  twice.  At  Governor  Livingston's  a  new 
coachman  was  procured,  and  the  family  proceeded  in  safety 
to  Philadelphia,  escorted  from  time  to  time,  from  place  to 
place,  by  cavalcades  of  gentlemen.  Near  Philadelphia  they 
were  met  by  Governor  Mifflin  and  many  distinguished  per 
sons  on  horseback,  escorted  by  a  squadron  of  cavalry.  At 
the  city  they  were  greeted  by  a  vast  multitude,  and  were 
conducted  to  the  City  Tavern,  where  quarters  had  been 
provided  for  them.  There  the  city  authorities  welcomed 
them  to  the  future  home  of  the  chief-magistrate. 

After  remaining  a  few  days  in  Philadelphia,  Washington 
and  his  family  departed  for  Mount  Vernon  in  a  post-chaise, 
leaving  the  coach  in  that  city  to  be  repaired.  That  business 
was  intrusted  to  David  Clarke,  an  Englishman  and  a  coach- 
maker.  The  emblazoning  on  the  coach  doors  was  changed, 
retaining  only  the  crest  of  Washington's  coat-of-arms  sur 
rounded  by  a  wreath. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  people  of  Philadelphia  indulged  the  hope  that  their 
city  might  yet  be  the  chosen  permanent  residence  of  the  Na 
tional  Government,  notwithstanding  the  action  of  Congress, 
and  offered  to  provide  a  mansion  for  the  President  at  the 
public  expense.  The  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  at  about 
the  same  time  appropriated  a  fine  building  on  South  Ninth 
Street  for  the  same  purpose.  But  Washington  declined  to 
accept  the  liberal  offers,  because  he  desired  not  to  live  in  a 
house  furnished  by  the  public.  Besides,  he  had  determined 
to  live  in  a  style  of  the  utmost  simplicity,  and  preferred  to 
furnish  the  house  himself  in  a  modest  way,  compatible  with 
the  dignity  of  his  official  position.  He  was  probably  moved 
to  this  decision  by  another  cogent  reason ;  he  knew  the 
Philadelphians  were  using  every  means  in  their  power  to 
firmly  establish  the  seat  of  government  in  their  city.  He 
preferred  a  site  farther  south,  and  was  unwilling  to  afford 
the  Philadelphians  a  plea  such  as  the  providing  of  a  presi 
dential  mansion  would  afford;  so  he  hired  a  house  (not  so 
large  as  he  had  left  in  New  York)  of  Robert  Morris,  situated 
on  High  Street,  one  door  east  from  the  south-east  corner  of 
Sixth,  at  the  rate  of  three  thousand  dollars  a  year.  Addi 
tions  were  made  to  it.  There  were  fine  stables,  sufficient 
for  the  accommodation  of  twelve  horses.  Attached  to  the 
house  was  a  large  garden,  enclosed  by  a  brick  wall,  and  a 
lot  well  stocked  with  fruit. 


LIFE   AT    PHILADELPHIA.  297 

Mr.  Lear  had  been  left  in  New  York  to  forward  to  Phila 
delphia  the  furniture  and  other  things  in  the  presidential 
mansion  there.  With  these  and  some  furniture  bought  in 
Philadelphia  he  fitted  up  the  house  in  a  most  satisfactory 


THE    PRESIDENT  S    HOUSE    IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

manner  to  both  the  President  and  Mrs.  Washington.  At 
the  close  of  November  they  arrived  from  Mount  Vernon  and 
took  possession  ;  yet  it  was  some  time  before  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  was  ready  to  see  company.  Her  first  public  recep 
tion  was  held  on  Friday  evening,  Christmas-day.  The  Pres 
ident  and  his  wife  held  their  respective  levees  on  Tuesdays 
and  Fridays,  as  they  had  done  in  New  York,  and  Congres 
sional  and  official  dinners  were  also  given  in  a  plain  way, 
without  any  extravagant  display  of  plate,  ornament,  or  vari 
ety  of  dishes.  The  tenor  of  their  private  lives  continued  to 
be  simple  and  unostentatious. 


298  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

An  English  manufacturer  (Henry  Wansey,  F.R.S.),  who 
breakfasted  with  the  Washington  family  in  1794,  wrote  as 
follows  :  "  Mrs.  Washington  herself  made  tea  and  coffee  for 
us.  On  the  table  were  two  small  plates  of  sliced  tongue 
and  dry  toast,  bread  and  butter,  but  no  broiled  fish,  as  is 
the  general  custom.  Miss  Eleanor  Custis,  her  granddaugh 
ter,  a  very  pleasing  young  lady  of  about  sixteen,  sat  next  to 
her,  and  next  her  grandson,  George  Washington  Parke  Cus 
tis,  about  two  years  younger.  There  were  but  slight  indica 
tions  of  form,  one  servant  only  attending,  who  had  no  livery; 
and  a  silver  urn  for  hot  water  was  the  only  expensive  article 
on  the  table.  Mrs.  Washington  struck  me  as  somewhat  old 
er  than  the  President,  though  I  understand  they  were  both 
born  the  same  year.  She  was  short  in  stature,  rather  robust, 
extremely  simple  in  her  dress,  and  wore  a  very  plain  cap, 
with  her  gray  hair  turned  up  under  it." 

Mrs.  Susan  Wallace,  whose  mother  lived  opposite  the 
President's  home  in  Market  Street,  gave  to  her  son,  the  late 
Horace  Binney  Wallace,  some  notes  of  her  recollections  of 
Mrs.  Washington  at  this  period.  She  and  Mrs.  Wallace's 
mother  became  intimate  friends,  and  visited  each  other  fre 
quently.  Mrs.  Washington  always  returned  a  call  on  the 
third  day.  A  footman  would  run  over,  knock  loudly,  and 
announce  "  Mrs.  Washington,"  who  would  then  come  over 
with  Mr.  Lear.  Mrs.  Wallace  often  met  the  President's  wife 
in  her  mother's  parlor,  and  was  delighted  with  her  manners, 
which  she  said  "were  very  easy,  pleasant,  and  unceremoni 
ous,  with  the  characteristics  of  other  Virginia  ladies." 

The  first  Congress  expired  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  on 
March  4,  1791.  At  that  hour  the  President  and  his  family 
departed  from  Philadelphia  for  Mount  Vernon  in  a  hand- 


WASHINGTON'S  SOUTHERN  TOUR.  299 

some  white  coach,  built  by  Mr.  Clarke,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
drawn  by  six  horses.  Finding  the  roads  very  heavy  when 
they  reached  Delaware,  they  embarked  in  a  vessel  on  Ches 
apeake  Bay,  and  after  encountering  great  perils  during  a 
tempestuous  night,  they  arrived  in  safety  at  Annapolis. 
Proceeding  to  Georgetown,  the  President  there  met  the 
commissioners  appointed  to  lay  out  the  District  of  Colum 
bia  and  locate  the  site  of  the  National  metropolis.  Having 
settled  everything  satisfactorily,  he  proceeded  to  Mount 
Vernon,  where  he  remained  a  week,  when  he  set  out  upon  a 
tour  through  the  Southern  States. 

Washington  had  prepared  for  this  journey  before  leaving 
Philadelphia.  His  equipage  and  attendance  consisted  of 
his  new  coach,  drawn  by  four  horses,  a  light  baggage-wagon 
and  two  horses,  four  saddle-horses,  besides  a  led  one  for 
himself,  and  five  persons  —  his  valet  de  chambre,  two  foot 
men,  a  coachman,  and  postilion.  He  was  accompanied  by 
Major  Jackson,  one  of  his  secretaries. 

This  tour  was  extended  to  Savannah,  in  Georgia.  The 
President  was  everywhere  received  with  tokens  of  venera 
tion,  love,  and  respect.  He  was  welcomed  to  towns  by  sal 
vos  of  artillery,  and  corporations  of  cities  entertained  him  at 
banquets.  At  New  Berne  he  attended  a  public  dinner  and 
a  ball  in  the  old  palace  of  Governor  Tryon.  He  was  escort 
ed  into  Wilmington  by  military  companies  and  citizens  who 
went  out  to  meet  him,  and  he  was  conveyed  across  the 
Cape  Fear  River  in  an  elegantly  decorated  barge,  manned 
by  six  masters  of  vessels.  The  citizens  of  Charleston  gave 
him  a  magnificent  reception.  He  was  entertained  at  a  pub 
lic  banquet  at  the  Exchange,  and  in  the  afternoon  he  was 
visited  by  a  great  number  of  the  most  respectable  ladies  of 


30O  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Charleston — "  the  first  honor  of  the  kind  I  had  ever  experi 
enced,"  he  wrote  in  his  diary,  "  and  it  was  as  flattering  as 
it  was  singular." 

Similar  honors  awaited  Washington  at  Savannah.  At 
this  point  he  turned  his  face  northward,  travelled  through 
the  interior  of  South  Carolina  by  way  of  Columbia,  and 
reached  Mount  Vernon  on  the  i2th  of  June,  much  invigor 
ated  by  the  journey. 

Washington  remained  at  Mount  Vernon  about  three 
weeks,  inspecting  his  farms  and  teaching  a  new  manager 
of  the  estate  in  his  duties,  for  the  failing  health  of  his  neph 
ew,  George  Augustus  Washington,  compelled  the  latter  to 
relinquish  that  position.  The  President  made  a  flying  visit 
to  Philadelphia,  and  returned  early  in  September;  but  soon 
afterwards  he  and  Mrs.  Washington  journeyed  to  the  seat 
of  government,  for  the  first  session  of  the  Second  Congress 
began  on  the  24th  of  October. 

In  the  presidential  mansion  the  usual  routine  of  its  life  in 
house-keeping,  public  receptions,  and  Congressional  dinners 
was  resumed.  The  city  was  very  gay  that  season.  It  as 
sumed  metropolitan  features  and  put  on  metropolitan  airs. 
Parties,  balls,  and  other  entertainments  abounded.  The 
theatre,  "  as  elegant,  convenient,  and  as  large  as  Covent 
Garden/'  wrote  an  English  traveller,  was  favored  with  the 
best  professional  company  before  seen  in  America,  under  the 
management  of  Wignell,  already  mentioned.  Its  perform 
ances  were  often  enjoyed  by  the  President  and  his  family. 

The  terrible  storm  of  the  French  Revolution  had  now  be 
gun  to  rage  furiously,  and  its  influence  was  soon  severely 
felt  in  the  political  and  social  life  of  the  United  States. 
Blind,  unreasoning  sympathy  with  the  revolutionists  and  in- 


RETICENCE    CONCERNING    PUBLIC    MATTERS.  30! 

telligent  conservatism  soon  produced  antagonistic  parties 
here.  Society  was  speedily  divided  by  a  strong  line  of  de 
marcation,  and  these  antagonisms  became  more  and  more 
violent  during  the  whole  of  Washington's  administration. 
His  cabinet  was  divided,  yet  he  held  it  as  a  unit  on  the 
greater  questions  of  the  day — during  all  the  excitements 
growing  out  of  the  conduct  of  Genet  and  his  successors,  the 
President's  proclamation  of  neutrality,  Jay's  treaty,  and  the 
Whiskey  Insurrection. 

Unlike  the  atmosphere  of  European  palaces,  wherein  po 
litical  plots  and  intrigues  among  the  women  were  often  gen 
erated  and  fostered,  that  of  the  presidential  mansion  was 
never  disturbed  by  any  political  movements.  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  who  was  supreme  in  her  domain,  never  permitted 
political  discussions  among  her  guests.  She  never  ex 
pressed  an  opinion  on  public  questions  excepting  in  private 
among  her  most  intimate  friends.  Though  diplomatists  and 
others  often  attempted  to  draw  her  into  conversation  on 
such  topics,  she  so  adroitly  but  most  courteously  evaded  the 
subject  that  she  remained  a  sphinx ;  yet  her  convictions 
were  as  strong  and  clear  as  those  of  her  husband,  and  were 
in  perfect  harmony  with  his.  Indeed  her  sympathizing 
heart,  sound  sense,  and  judicious  advice  gave  the  President 
much  of  his  strength,  and  helped  him  to  wise  decisions 
when  he  was  perplexed  with  doubts.  Mr.  Custis  informed 
me  that  Washington's  letters  to  her  from  the  seat  of  war 
and  from  the  seat  of  government,  while  she  was  at  Mount 
Vernon,  were  largely  filled  with  matters  on  public  affairs, 
and  that  her  answers  abounded  with  full  and  free  expres 
sions  of  opinion  ;  yet  she  was  never  known  to  utter,  even 
semi-publicly,  any  opinion  upon  important  questions  of  State. 


302  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

During  the  old  war  for  independence,  Mrs.  Washington 
was  more  outspoken,  and  it  is  believed  that  an  address 
published  in  a  Philadelphia  paper  in  1780,  while  she  was  in 
that  city,  entitled,  "  The  Sentiments  of  an  American  Wom 
an,"  was  written  by  her.  Under  that  impression  it  was  read 
from  the  pulpits  of  the  churches  throughout  Virginia. 

Mrs.  Washington  was  particularly  distinguished,  at  all 
periods  of  her  life,  for  her  tender  solicitude  for  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  the  friends  she  loved.  In  the  spring  of 
1793  Col.  Alexander  Hamilton,  then  Secretary  of  the  Treas 
ury,  suffered  a  severe  attack  of  typhoid  fever.  It  is  prob 
able  the  following  characteristic  letter  from  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  to  Mrs.  Hamilton,  for  whom  she  cherished  the  warmest 
regard,  was  written  at  that  time : 

"  I  am  truly  glad,  my  dear  Madam,  to  hear  Colonel  Ham 
ilton  is  better  to-day.  You  have  my  prayers  and  warmest 
wishes  for  his  recovery.  I  hope  you  will  take  care  of  your 
self,  as  you  know  it  is  necessary  for  your  family. 

"  We  are  lucky  to  have  three  bottles  of  the  old  wine  that 
was  carried  to  the  East  Indies,  which  is  sent  with  three  of 
another  kind,  which  is  very  good,  and  we  have  a  plenty  to 
supply  you,  as  often  as  you  please  to  send  for  it,  of  the 
latter. 

"  The  President  joins  me  in  devoutly  wishing  Colonel 
Hamilton's  recovery. 

"  We  expect  to  leave  this  to-morrow,  and  beg  you  will 
send  to  Mrs.  Emerson  for  anything  that  we  have  that  you 
may  want. 

"  I  am,  my  dear  Madam,  your  very  affectionate  friend, 

"M.  WASHINGTON."* 

*  Autograph  letter  of  Martha  Washington,  in  the  possession  of  Mrs. 


A    WIFE'S    DEVOTION.  303 

As  the  chief  topic  of  this  narrative  is  the  career  of  the 
wife  of  Washington,  and  as  notices  of  great  events  in  which 
he  was  chief  participant  and  with  which  she  was  in  some 
degree  connected  have  been  introduced  incidentally,  and 
yet  necessarily,  in  order  to  give  lucidity  to  the  narrative,  I 
shall  make  note  of  but  little  more  of  his  administration  of 
eight  years.  During  that  time  Mrs.  Washington  was  almost 
constantly  at  his  side,  a  nurse  in  sickness,  a  companion  in 
social  life,  and  a  counsellor  and  best  friend  at  all  times. 
She  gave  him  the  comforts  and  the  exquisite  enjoyments  of 
home  life,  which  he  so  much  coveted  in  the  intervals  of  his 
public  toils  and  cares.  She  was  with  him  in  their  occasional 
seasons  of  retirement  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  when  a 
lull  in  public  business,  during  the  recesses  of  Congress, 
would  allow  him  to  leave  the  capital.  She  was  the  ever 
cheerful,  ever  gracious  mistress  of  the  presidential  mansion, 
who  entertained  distinguished  strangers  from  abroad  and 
public  characters  at  home  with  a  dignity  and  grace  which 
commanded  universal  admiration. 

Washington  refused  to  accept  the  exalted  office  of  Presi 
dent  a  third  time.  In  the  autumn  of  1796  he  published  his 
famous  "  Farewell  Address,"  and  in  the  following  spring  he 

Philip  Hamilton,  of  Poughkeepsie,  a  daughter-in-law  of  Col.  Alexander 
Hamilton. 

The  autograph  letters  of  Mrs.  Washington  are  extremely  rare.  The 
contents  of  this  one  are  so  characteristic  that  it  appears  worthy  of  pub 
lication  in  this  connection.  The  President  and  his  family  always  left 
the  seat  of  government  immediately  after  the  termination  of  the  short 
session  of  Congress,  on  the  4th  of  March.  We  may  infer  from  the  cir 
cumstances  hinted  at,  that  this  letter  was  written  in  the  first  week  of 
March,  1793.  Mrs.  Emerson  was  the  house-keeper  of  the  presidential 
mansion. 


304  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

retired  to  private  life.  The  last  two  years  of  his  administra 
tion  had  been  exceedingly  trying  to  his  patience,  for  never 
before  nor  since,  in  the  history  of  our  country,  did  political 
party-spirit  evince  more  violence  of  temper  or  indulge  iri 
more  unscrupulous  attacks  upon  private  character  than  at 
that  period.  The  President  was  the  object  of  the  most 
scurrilous  personal  abuse.*  No  one  dared  to  accuse  him 
openly  of  dishonest  or  even  dishonorable  conduct,  yet  by 
innuendoes  and  falsehoods  of  darkest  aspect,  disguised  as 
insinuations,  his  political  enemies  attempted  to  destroy  his 
popularity  and  to  send  him  into  private  life  without  the 
sweet  consolations  of  the  approval  of  his  countrymen. 

"  To  the  wearied  traveller  who  sees  a  resting-place,  and  is 
bending  his  body  to  lean  thereon,"  Washington  wrote  to 
General  Knox  at  that  time,  "  I  now  compare  myself ;  but  to 
be  suffered  to  do  this  in  peace  is  too  much  to  be  endured  by 


*  Three  days  after  the  President  retired  from  office,  a  writer  in  the 
Aurora  newspaper  said,  "  When  a  retrospect  is  taken  of  the  Washington 
administration  for  eight  years,  it  is  the  subject  of  the  greatest  astonish 
ment  that  a  single  individual  should  have  cankered  the  principles  of 
republicanism  in  an  enlightened  people  just  emerged  from  the  gulf  of 
despotism,  and  should  have  carried  his  designs  against  the  public  lib 
erty  so  far  as  to  have  put  in  jeopardy  its  very  existence.  Such,  however, 
are  the  facts,  and  with  these  staring  us  in  the  face,  this  day  ought  to  be 
a  jubilee  in  the  United  States."  Thomas  Paine  had  published  an  open 
letter  to  Washington  a  few  days  before,  in  which  he  said,  "As  to  you, 
sir,  treacherous  in  private  friendship  and  a  hypocrite  in  public  life,  the 
world  will  be  puzzled  to  now  decide  whether  you  are  an  apostate  or  an 
impostor,  whether  you  have  abandoned  good  principles,  or  whether  you 
ever  had  any."  Poor  Paine  was  very  angry  because  Washington  had  not 
used  his  power  and  influence  in  compelling  the  French  Jacobins  to  re 
lease  him  from  prison  in  Paris. 


LAFAYETTE    IN    PRISON.  305 

some.  To  misrepresent  my  motives,  to  reprobate  my  politics, 
and  to  weaken  the  confidence  which  has  been  imposed  in 
my  administration,  are  objects  which  cannot  be  relinquished 
by  those  who  will  be  satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  a  change 
in  our  political  system.  The  consolation,  however,  which 
results  from  conscious  rectitude,  and  the  approving  voice 
of  my  country,  unequivocally  expressed  by  its  representa 
tives,  deprive  their  sting  of  its  poison,  and  place  in  the  same 
point  of  view  the  weakness  and  malignity  of  their  efforts." 

The  misfortunes  of  Lafayette  and  his  family  during  the 
later  years  of  Washington's  administration  gave  the  Presi 
dent  and  his  wife  the  most  painful  anxiety.  The  marquis 
had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  opening  events  of  the  French 
Revolution,  but  opposing  the  rash  acts  of  the  Terrorists  he 
was  ostracized  by  them.  He  started  for  Holland,  to  make 
his  way  to  the  United  States,  but  was  caught  by  Prussians 
and  cast  into  an  Austrian  prison  at  Olmutz.  When,  in 
1795,  his  wife  and  daughters  hastened  to  Olmutz,  by  per 
mission,  to  share  the  prison  with  him,  his  son,  George 
Washington  Lafayette,  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
tutor,  to  crave  the  care  and  protection  of  Washington. 

The  first  impulse  of  the  President  and  his  wife  was  to  re 
ceive  young  Lafayette  at  once  and  cherish  him  as  a  son,  but 
State  policy  forbade  it  at  that  critical  juncture  in  public 
affairs.  Provision  was  made  for  the  lad's  welfare.  He  was 
for  a  time  an  inmate  of  Col.  Alexander  Hamilton's  family 
at  New  York.*  In  a  letter  to  him  explaining  the  cause  of 
his  action,  Washington  wrote : 

*  Hamilton's  residence  was  then  at  "  The  Grange,"  near  the  Harlem 
River.  The  late  Philip  Schuyler,  of  Pelham.Westchester  County,  N.  Y., 
a  grandson  of  General  Schuyler,  was  at  that  time  a  student  in  Columbia 

20 


306  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  How  long  the  causes  which  have  withheld  you  from  me 
may  continue  I  am  not  at  able  this  moment  to  decide ;  but 
be  assured  of  my  wishes  to  embrace  you  so  soon  as  they 
shall  have  ceased,  and  that  whenever  the  period  a'rrives  I 
shall  do  it  with  fervency." 

The  sixty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Washington 
(February  22,  1797)  was  celebrated  at  Philadelphia  with  un 
usual  enthusiasm  and  ceremony.*  The  ships  in  the  harbor 

College,  and  boarded  with  the  Hamiltons.  He  informed  me  that  on 
one  occasion  he  and  young  Lafayette  quarrelled,  and  the  American  boy 
whipped  the  French  youth.  When,  in  1825,  young  Lafayette  with  his 
father  visited  Mr  Schuyler  at  Saratoga,  the  latter  pleasantly  reminded 
him  of  the  circumstance 

*  Washington's  birthday  was  celebrated  immediately  after  the  close 
of  the  Revolution.  A  clause  in  a  letter  from  Washington  to  Rocham- 
beau,  in  the  spring  of  1784,  indicates  that  it  had  been  celebrated  in  Paris 
by  the  French  officers  who  had  served  under  him.  The  first  birthnight 
ball  seems  to  have  been  given  by  his  neighbors  and  friends  at  Alexan 
dria,  a  few  miles  from  Mount  Vernon,  and  this  was  soon  imitated  in  the 
principal  cities  of  the  Union.  It  was  always  celebrated  at  the  seat  of 
government  while  he  was  President,  and  the  ball  at  night  was  invariably 
attended  by  him  and  Mrs.  Washington.  It  was  also  a  gala  night  at  the 
theatres.  At  one  of  these  balls,  in  Philadelphia,  appeared  groups  of 
young  ladies,  wearing  on  their  heads  and  intertwined  with  their  curls 
bandeaux,  with  the  words  embroidered  on  them,  "  Long  live  the  Presi 
dent."  Popular  songs  often  enlivened  the  public  celebrations  of  Wash 
ington's  birthday.  I  quote  the  opening  stanza  of  one  of  them . 

"  Come,  boys,  close  the  windows  and  make  a  good  fire, 

Wife,  children,  sit  snug  all  around; 
'Tis  the  day  that  gave  birth  to  our  country's  bless'd  sire, 

Then  let  it  with  pleasure  be  crowned. 
Dear  wife,  bring  your  wine,  and,  in  spite  of  hard  times, 

On  this  day  at  least  we'll  be  merry  ; 
Come,  fill  every  glass  till  it  pours  o'er  the  brim, 

If  not  with  Madeira — then  Sherry." 


307 

displayed  a  profusion  of  flags.  During  the  day  the  church 
bells  rang  merry  peals  every  half-hour.  Members  of  Con 
gress,  the  diplomatic  corps,  and  a  great  number  of  citizens 
called  on  the  President  at  his  house  to  offer  him  their  con 
gratulations.  In  the  evening  a  ball  was  given  in  his  honor 
at  the  amphitheatre.  The  portion  usually  occupied  by  the 
horses  was  floored  over  for  dancing,  and  flowers,  flags,  and 
evergreens  decorated  the  building  in  every  part.  Many 
banners  and  complimentary  inscriptions  were  displayed. 

When  the  President  and  Mrs.  Washington  entered,  they 
were  conducted  to  a  sofa  with  a  canopy  over  it,  on  an  ele 
vated  platform.  Washington  did  not  occupy  it  much  of  the 
time,  but  moved  about  conversing  familiarly  with  the  company. 
"  The  ladies,"  wrote  an  eye-witness,  "  were  elegantly  dressed. 
There  were  at  least  five  hundred  present,  and  a  greater  num 
ber  of  gentlemen.  The  President  and  Mrs.  Washington 
were  in  very  good  spirits,  and,  I  am  persuaded,  have  not 
spent  so  agreeable  an  evening  for  a  long  time.  Every  coun 
tenance  bespoke  pleasure  and  approbation  ;  even  democrats 
forgot  for  a  moment  their  enmity,  and  seemed  to  join  heart 
ily  in  the  festivity." 

Mrs.  Washington  and  the  President  held  their  last  levees 
together  as  one  entertainment  a  few  days  before  he  retired 
from  office.  It  was  attended  by  the  beauty  and  fashion  of 
the  metropolis,  and  by  a  far  greater  number  of  these  and 
persons  of  distinction  than  usual.  On  the  3d  of  March  they 
gave  a  farewell  dinner  to  as  many  persons  as  could  be  seat 
ed  at  their  table.  Among  the  guests  were  the  Vice-president, 
the  cabinet  ministers,  the  foreign  diplomatists,  and  several 
distinguished  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  with  their  wives. 
Bishop  White,  who  was  among  the  guests,  wrote : 


308  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  During  the  dinner  much  hilarity  prevailed  ;  but  on  the 
removal  of  the  cloth  it  was  put  an  end  to  by  the  President 
— certainly  without  design.  Having  filled  his  glass,  he  ad 
dressed  the  company,  with  a  smile  on  his  countenance,  say 
ing,  '  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  this  is  the  last  time  I  shall 
drink  your  health  as  a  public  man.  I  do  it  with  sincerity, 
and  wishing  you  all  possible  happiness.'  There  was  an  end 
to  all  hilarity,  and  the  cheeks  of  Mrs.  Listen,  wife  of  the 
British  minister,  were  wet  with  tears."* 


*  The  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  the  chaplain  of  Congress  at  that  time,  and 
who  was  generally  at  the  public  dinners  given  by  Washington,  left  on 
record  an  account  of  the  manner  of  these  entertainments.  "  His  week 
ly  dining  day  for  company,"  wrote  Mr.  Green,  "was  Thursday,  and  his 
dining  hour  was  always  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  His  rule  was  to 
allow  five  minutes  for  the  variation  of  clocks  and  watches,  and  then  go 
to  the  table,  be  present  or  absent  whoever  might.  .  .  .  When  lagging 
members  of  Congress  came  in,  as  they  often  did,  after  the  guests  had  sat 
down  to  dinner,  the  President's  only  apology  was,  '  Gentlemen  (or  sir),  we 
are  too  punctual  for  you.  I  have  a  cook  who  never  asks  whether  the 
company,  but  whether  the  hour  has  come.'  .  .  .  Mrs.  Washington  often, 
but  not  always,  dined  with  the  company,  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
and  if,  as  was  occasionally  the  case,  there  were  other  ladies  present,  they 
sat  each  side  of  her.  The  private  secretary  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  table, 
and  was  expected  to  be  quietly  attentive  to  all  the  guests.  The  President 
himself  sat  half  way  from  the  head  to  the  foot  of  the  table,  and  on  that 
side  he  would  place  Mrs.  Washington,  though  distant  from  him,  on  his 
right  hand.  He  always,  unless  a  clergyman  was  present,  asked  a  bless 
ing  in  a  standing  posture.  .  .  .  The  President,  it  is  believed,  generally 
dined  on  one  dish,  and  that  of  a  very  simple  kind.  If  offered  some 
thing,  either  in  the  first  or  second  course,  which  was  very  rich,  his  usual 
remark  was,  '  That  is  too  good  for  me.'  He  had  a  silver  pint  cup  or 
mug  of  beer  placed  by  his  plate,  which  he  drank  while  eating.  He  took 
one  glass  of  wine  during  dinner,  and  commonly  one  after.  He  then  re- 


INAUGURATION    OF    THE    SECOND    PRESIDENT.  309 

On  the  following  day  John  Adams  was  inaugurated  the  sec 
ond  President  of  the  United  States.  At  the  appointed  hour 
(noon)  Washington  rode  to  Congress  Hall  in  his  coach 
drawn  by  six  horses.  When  he  entered  the  crowded  hall 
he  was  greeted  with  cheers  and  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs. 
Mr.  Adams  followed  him  and  received  similar  honors.  When 
they  were  seated  in  front  of  the  Speaker's  desk  with  the  jus 
tices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Washington  arose  and  introduced 
Mr.  Adams  to  the  great  assemblage,  and  then  read  a  brief 
valedictory  address,  with  such  sensible  emotions  that  it 
touched  all  hearts  and  brought  tears  to  all  eyes.  The  oath 
of  office  was  administered  to  the  new  President  by  Chief-jus 
tice  Ellsworth,  an  inaugural  address  followed,  and  the  cere 
monies  ended.  Washington  re-entered  his  coach  and  re 
turned  to  his  house.  He  was  followed  by  a  multitude  of 
shouting  citizens.  From  his  door-step  he  briefly  addressed 
the  people,  and  bade  them  farewell. 

On  the  evening  of  that  eventful  day  the  merchants  and 
principal  citizens  of  Philadelphia  gave  a  brilliant  entertain 
ment — a  banquet — at  the  amphitheatre  in  honor  of  the  re 
tiring  President.  It  was  attended  by  the  foreign  ministers, 
heads  of  departments,  Congressmen,  and  a  very  large  num 
ber  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  When  the  President  and  Mrs. 
Washington  entered  the  room  the  band  played  "Washing 
ton's  March."  At  the  same  moment  a  large  curtain  hang 
ing  at  one  end  of  the  room  was  drawn  aside,  when  a  beauti- 


tired  (the  ladies  having  gone  a  little  before),  and  left  his  secretary  to 
superintend  the  table  till  the  wine-bibbers  of  Congress  had  satisfied 
themselves  with  drinking.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  order  with  which 
his  table  was  served." 


310  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF   WASHINGTON. 

ful  allegorical  picture,  painted  by  Charles  Willson  Peale, 
was  revealed.  The  chief  figure  in  it  was  that  of  the  Beloved 
Guest.  Other  paintings  depicting  scenes  in  the  public  ca 
reer  of  Washington  decorated  the  room.  Among  these  was 
a  view  of  the  mansion  at  Mount  Vernon  to  which  he  and 
his  family  were  about  to  retire. 

With  this  generous  display  of  affection— this  homage  of 
intelligence,  taste,  and  refinement— this  notable  testimoni 
al  of  the  popular  regard,  the  public  life  of  Washington  was 
closed.  He  had  on  that  day  stepped  down  from  the  lofty 
pedestal  on  which  he  had  stood  for  eight  years,  the  chief 
representative  of  a  new  nation — the  admiration  of  the  civil 
ized  world — and  became  a  plain  farmer  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

YOUNG  Lafayette  had  been  invited  to  Philadelphia  early 
in  the  winter  of  1796-97,  and  was  received  with  the  warmest 
tokens  of  affection  by  Washington  and  his  wife.  He  was 
advised  to  avoid  society.  He  and  his  tutor,  M.  Frestel,  lived 
near  the  presidential  mansion,  and  when  the  Washington 
family  left  the  seat  of  government  for  Mount  Vernon  they 
accompanied  them.  Under  the  hospitable  roof  of  these 
friends,  the  lad,  as  tenderly  cared  for  as  if  he  had  been  a 
son,  remained  until  the  following  autumn,  when  the  joyful 
news  reached  him  that  his  father  had  been  restored  to  his 
country  and  friends.  At  the  close  of  October  he  and  his 
tutor  went  to  New  York  and  sailed  for  France. 

In  his  journey  from  the  seat  of  government  to  Mount 
Vernon,  Washington  was  received  with  unbounded  enthusi 
asm  at  all  the  towns  on  the  way.  In  these  honors  Mrs. 
Washington  largely  shared.  They  desired  to  avoid  all  pa 
rade  and  escorts,  but  could  not.  -When  they  approached 
Baltimore  they  were  met  by  a  troop  of  horse  and  a  large 
crowd  of  people,  some  on  foot  and  some  on  horseback,  who 
had  come  out  to  escort  them  into  the  town.  When  they 
alighted  at  Fountaine's  Inn  the  ex-President  "  was  saluted," 
wrote  an  eye-witness,  "  with  reiterated  and  thundering  huz 
zas  from  a  vast  multitude  of  voices."  They  reached  Mount 
Vernon  on  the  i4th  of  March.  Mrs.  Washington  was  suf 
fering  from  the  effects  of  a  cold  she  had  contracted  in  Phil- 


312  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

adelphia,  but  she  soon  recovered  under  the  influence  of  the 
genial  sunshine  and  delightful  quiet  that  prevailed  at  her 
home. 

The  family  at  Mount  Vernon  now  consisted  of  the  gen 
eral  and  his  wife,  his  adopted  children  (Eleanor  Parke  Cus- 
tis  and  George  Washington  Parke  Custis),  his  niece  (Miss 
Harriet  Washington),  young  Lafayette  and  his  tutor,  and  Mr. 
Lear.  Eleanor  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  George 
was  sixteen.  The  latter  was  a  freshman  student  at  the  col 
lege  at  Princeton.  The  other  two  grandchildren  of  Mrs. 
Washington  were  then  married.  Elizabeth  Parke  was  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Law,  a  nephew  of  Lord  Ellenborough  and  a  gen 
tleman  of  fortune,  and  Martha  Parke  was  the  wife  of  Thom 
as  Peter,  a  gentleman  of  great  wealth  and  excellence  of 
character. 

The  quiet  of  private  life  and  freedom  from  public  cares 
in  their  beloved  home,  with  a  promise  that  it  should  never 
again  be  interrupted,  gave  exquisite  enjoyment  to  Washing 
ton  and  his  wife,  and  they  fairly  revelled  in  the  luxury. 
Their  letters  to  friends  soon  after  their  return  home  were 
rilled  with  indications  of  their  serene  delight.  To  one 
Washington  wrote :  "If  I  could  now  and  then  meet  the 
friends  I  esteem  it  would  fill  the  measure  of  my  enjoyments  • 
but  if  ever  this  happens,  it  must  be  under  my  own  vine  and 
fig-tree,  as  I  do  not  think  it  probable  that  I  shall  go  twenty 
miles  from  them."  Alas  !  the  voice  of  his  country  soon 
called  him  to  her  aid  against  the  aggressions  of  intoxicated 
France,  and  before  the  close  of  the  next  year  he  was  in  Phil 
adelphia  as  the  commander-in-chief  of  a  provisional  army.* 

*  The  French  Government,  offended  because  of  the  neutral  position 


AT    MOUNT   VERNON    AGAIN.  313 

Mrs.  Washington  took  equal  delight  in  her  quiet  seclusion. 
To  Mrs.  Knox  she  wrote  :  "  I  cannot  tell  you,  my  dear 
friend,  how  much  I  enjoy  home  after  having  been  deprived 
of  one  so  long,  for  our  dwelling  in  New  York  and  Philadel 
phia  was  not  home,  only  a  sojourning.  The  General  and  I 
feel  like  children  just  released  from  school  or  from  a  hard 
taskmaster,  and  we  believe  that  nothing  can  tempt  us  to 
leave  the  sacred  roof-tree  again,  except  on  private  business 
or  pleasure.  We  are  so  penurious  with  our  enjoyment  that 
we  are  loath  to  share  it  with  any  one  but  dear  friends,  yet  al 
most  every  day  some  stranger  claims  a  portion  of  it,  and  we 
cannot  refuse. 

"  Nelly  and  I  are  companions.  Washington  [G.  W.  P. 
Custis]  is  yet  at  Princeton  and  doing  well.  Mrs.  Law  and 
Mrs.  Peter  are  often  with  us,  and  my  dear  niece,  Fanny 
Washington,  who  is  a  widow,  lives  at  Alexandria,  only  a  few 
miles  from  us.  Our  furniture  and  other  things  sent  to  us 
from  Philadelphia  arrived  safely;  our  plate  we  brought  with 

the  United  States  had  assumed,  treated  the  American  minister  there  with 
much  rudeness,  and  authorized  depredations  on  American  commerce  by 
French  cruisers.  President  Adams  attempted  to  negotiate  for  a  good 
understanding,  but  failed,  and  Congress  prepared  to  vindicate  the  digni 
ty  of  our  Government.  A  large  provisional  army  was  authorized,  and 
Washington,  urged  by  the  President  and  the  expressed  public  desire,  ac 
cepted  the  position  of  commander-in-chief  of  the  new  army,  on  the  con 
dition  that  he  was  not  to  take  the  field  unless  in  the  case  of  a  great 
emergency.  With  this  understanding,  and  that  Alexander  Hamilton 
should  be  made  the  acting  commander-in-chief  in  the  field,  he  undertook 
the  great  task.  Happily,  war  did  not  ensue.  The  existing  French  gov 
ernment  fell  to  rise  no  more  early  in  1799,  and  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  at 
the  head  of  affairs,  soon  made  an  amicable  arrangement  with  our  Re 
public. 


314  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

us  in  the  carriage.  How  many  dear  friends  I  have  left  be 
hind  !  They  fill  my  memory  with  sweet  thoughts.  Shall  I 
ever  see  them  again  ?  Not  likely,  unless  they  shall  come 
to  me  here,  for  the  twilight  is  gathering  around  our  lives.  I 
am  again  fairly  settled  down  to  the  pleasant  duties  of  an 
old-fashioned  Virginia  house-keeper,  steady  as  a  clock,  busy 
as  a  bee,  and  as  cheerful  as  a  cricket." 

Mrs.  Washington  was,  indeed,  a  notable  "  Virginia  house 
keeper."  A  pleasing  picture  of  her  in  her  home  was  drawn 
in  a  letter  written  by  Mrs.  Col.  Edward  Carrington  to  her 
sister  a  few  months  before  the  death  of  Washington.  "  Let 
us  repair  to  the  old  Lady's  room,"  she  wrote,  "  which  is  pre 
cisely  in  the  style  of  our  good  old  Aunts — that  is  to  say, 
nicely  fixed  for  all  sorts  of  work.  On  one  side  sits  the 
chambermaid  with  her  knitting;  on  the  other  a  little  col 
ored  pet  learning  to  sew.  An  old  decent  woman  is  there 
with  her  table  and  shears  cutting  out  the  negroes'  winter 
clothes,  while  the  good  old  lady  directs  them  all,  incessantly 
knitting  herself.  She  points  out  to  me  several  pair  of  nice 
colored  stockings  and  gloves  she  has  just  finished,  and  pre 
sents  me  with  a  pair  half  done,  which  she  begs  I  will  finish 
and  wear  for  her  sake.  It  is  wonderful,  after  a  life  spent  as 
these  good  people  have  necessarily  spent  theirs,  to  see  them, 
in  retirement,  assume  those  domestic  habits  that  prevail  in 
our  country." 

Washington  gave  his  personal  attention  to  the  manage 
ment  of  his  farms,  riding  over  them  daily,  a  distance  of 
from  ten  to  fourteen  miles.  Starting  out  immediately  after 
breakfast  he  would  return  in  time  to  dress  for  dinner,  "at 
which,"  he  wrote  to  a  friend,  "  I  rarely  miss  seeing  strange 
faces,  come,  as  they  say,  out  of  respect  for  me.  Pray,  would 


MRS.  WASHINGTON'S  HOME  RULE. 


not  the  word  curiosity  answer  as  well  ?     And  how  different 
this  from  having  a  few  social  friends  at  a  cheerful  board !" 
When  war-clouds  were  gathering  again,  and  Washington 
had  accepted  the  chieftaincy  of  the  provisional  army  author 
ized  to  be  raised  in  1798, 
the  number  of  visitors  at 
Mount  Vernon  greatly  in 
creased,  for  civil  and  mili 
tary  officers  repaired  there 
to  consult  the  great  com 
mander. 

Mrs.  Washington  was 
ever  indulgent  to  her  two 
grandchildren,  the  foster- 
children  of  her  husband; 
she  and  Washington  both 
felt  a  deep  solicitude  for 
their  welfare.  Nelly  (as 
Eleanor  was  usually  called) 
afterwards  said,  "Grand 
mamma  always  spoiled 
Washington  [her  brother], 
and  often  shielded  him  from  the  penalties  which  his  many 
little  faults  had  incurred."  His  foster-father,  though  most 
indulgent  also,  never  relaxed  proper  and  wholesome  dis 
cipline.  To  enforce  this  more  satisfactorily  he  removed 
George  from  Princeton  to  an  excellent  seminary  at  Annap 
olis,  where  he  completed  his  school  education. 

Though  Mrs.  Washington  was  very  indulgent,  she  was 
also  a  most  strict  disciplinarian.  She  compelled  Nelly  to 
attend  punctually  and  faithfully  to  her  studies  in  letters  and 


(From  a  painting  by  Stuart. 


3i6 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


NELLY   CUSTIS'S    HARPSICHORD.* 

music.  Washington  presented  to  her,  at  Philadelphia,  a 
fine  harpsichord,  at  a  cost  of  a -thousand  dollars.  The  best 
teachers  were  employed  to  instruct  her  in  its  use,  and  her 

*  This  instrument  was  at  Arlington  House  until  Mount  Vernon  was 
purchased  by  the  women  of  the  United  States,  when  Mrs.  Lee  gener 
ously  presented  it  to  the  association,  and  it  was  sent  back  to  the  old 
mansion,  where  it  may  be  seen  in  the  drawing-room.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  elegant  of  its  kind.  It  is  about  eight  feet  long,  three  and  a  half 
feet  wide,  and  has  two  boards,  containing  one  hundred  and  twenty  keys 
in  all.  The  case  is  mahogany. 


NELLY   CUSTIS.  317 

grandmamma  made  her  "practise"  upon  it  four  and  five 
hours  a  clay.  It  became  an  instrument  of  torture  to  poor 
Nelly.  "  She  would  cry  and  play,  and  play  and  cry  for 
hours/''  said  her  brother. 

Nelly  Custis  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  most  brilliant  young  women  of  her  time.  She  was  the 
pride  of  her  grandmother,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  her 
foster-father.  Her  beauty  is  attested  by  a  portrait  of  her 
painted  by  Stuart  just  before  she  left  Philadelphia,  and 
which  adorned  the  drawing-room  at  Arlington  House  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War.  Late  in  life  she  re 
lated  to  a  friend  the  following  incident  of  her  young  girl 
hood  : 

"  I  was  young  and  romantic  then,"  she  said,  "  and  fond 
of  wandering  alone  in  the  woods  of  Mount  Vernon  by  moon 
light.  Grandmamma  thought  it  wrong  and  unsafe,  and 
scolded  and  coaxed  me  into  a  promise  that  I  would  not  wan 
der  in  the  woods  again,  unaccompanied.  But  I  was  missing 
one  evening,  and  was  brought  home  from  the  interdicted 
woods  to  the  drawing-room,  where  the  General  was  walking 
up  and  down  with  his  hands  behind  him,  as  was  his  wont. 
Grandmamma,  seated  in  her  great  arm-chair,  opened  a  se 
vere  reproof." 

"  Poor  Miss  Nelly,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  who  first  related  the 
story,  "  was  reminded  of  her  promise,  and  taxed  with  her  de 
linquency.  She  knew  that  she  had  done  wrong,  admitted 
her  fault,  and  essayed  no  excuse ;  but  when  there  was  a 
slight  pause,  moved  to  retire  from  the  room.  She  was  just 
shutting  the  door,  when  she  overheard  the  general  attempt 
ing,  in  a  low  voice,  to  intercede  in  her  behalf.  '  My  dear,'  he 
observed,  *  I  would  say  no  more — perhaps  she  was  not  alone.' 


318  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

"  His  intercession  stopped  Miss  Nelly  in  her  retreat. 
She  reopened  the  door,  and  advanced  up  to  the  general  with 
a  firm  step.  *  Sir,'  said  she,  '  you  brought  me  up  to  speak 
the  truth,  and  when  I  told  grandmamma  I  was  alone,  I  hope 
you  believe  I  was  alone? 

"  The  general  made  one  of  his  most  magnanimous  bows. 
*  My  child,'  he  replied,  *  I  beg  your  pardon.'  " 

This  charming  granddaughter  always  spoke  of  her  life  at 
Mount  Vernon,  during  childhood  and  young  maidenhood, 
as  most  delightful.  The  domestic  atmosphere  was  always 
peaceful  and  lovely.  There  was,  at  all  times,  perpetual  har 
mony  between  her  grandmamma  and  the  general.  In  all 
his  intercourse  with  her  he  was  most  considerate  and  ten 
der.  Nelly  had  often  seen  Mrs.  Washington,  when  she  had 
anything  to  communicate  or  a  request  to  make  at  a  moment 
when  his  mind  was  abstracted  from  the  present,  seize  him 
by  the  button  to  command  his  attention,  when  he  would  look 
down  upon  her  with  a  most  benignant  smile,  and  become 
at  once  attentive  to  her  and  her  wishes,  which  were  never 
slighted.  He  keenly  enjoyed  a  joke,'  she  said,  and  no  one 
laughed  more  heartily  than  he  did  when  she  (Nelly),  a  gay, 
laughing  girl,  gave  one  of  her  saucy  descriptions  of  any 
scene  in  which  she  had  taken  a  part,  or  any  one  of  the  many 
pranks  she  often  played. 

When  Nelly  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  she  attended 
her  first  ball,  at  Georgetown,  and  wrote  a  description  of  it  to 
her  foster-father  at  the  seat  of  government.  His  response 
presents  the  Father  of  his  Country  in  the  attitude  of  an  es 
sayist  on  the  "  Art  of  Love,"  and  in  delightful  epistolary 
undress — an  attitude  in  which  he  was  rarely  seen.  After 
alluding  to  some  remarks  of  hers  about  her  indifference  to 


WASHINGTON'S  VIEWS  ON  LOVE.  319 

young  men,  and  her  "  determination  never  to  give  herself  a 
moment's  uneasiness  on  account  of  any  of  them,"  he  warned' 
her  not  to  be  too  sure  of  her  control  of  the  passions.  "  In 
the  composition  of  the  human  frame,"  he  wrote,  "  there  is  a 
good  deal  of  inflammable  matter,  which,  when  the  torch  is 
put  to  it,  may  burst  into  a  flame."  He  continued : 

"  Love  is  said  to  be  an  involuntary  passion,  and  it  is, 
therefore,  contended  that  it  cannot  be  resisted.  This  is  true, 
in  part  only,  for  like  all  things  else,  when  nourished  and  sup 
plied  plentifully  with  aliment,  it  is  rapid  in  its  progress  ;  but 
let  these  be  withdrawn  and  it  may  be  stifled  in  its  birth  or 
much  stunted  in  its  growth.  For  example  :  a  woman  (the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  other  sex)  all  beautiful  and  accom 
plished,  will,  while  her  hand  and  heart  are  undisposed  of, 
turn  the  heads  and  set  the  circle  in  which  she  moves  on  fire. 
Let  her  marry,  and  what  is  the  consequence  ?  The  madness 
ceases  and  all  is  quiet  again.  Why?  not  because  there  is 
any  diminution  in  the  charm  of  the  lady,  but  because  there 
is  an  end  of  hope.  Hence  it  follows  that  love  may  and 
therefore  ought  to  be  under  the  guidance  of  reason,  for  al 
though  we  cannot  avoid  first  impressions,  we  may  assuredly 
place  them  under  guard  ;  and  my  motives  for  treating  on 
this  subject  are  to  show  you,  while  you  remain  Eleanor  Parke 
Custis,  spinster,  and  retain  the  resolution  to  love  with  mod 
eration,  the  propriety  of  adhering  to  the  latter  resolution,  at 
least  until  you  have  secured  your  game,  or  the  way  by  which 
it  may  be  accomplished. 

"When  the  fire  is  beginning  to  kindle,  and  your  heart 
growing  warm,  propound  these  questions  to  it :  Who  is  this 
invader  ?  Have  I  a  competent  knowledge  of  him  ?  Is  he  a 
man  of  good  character ;  a  man  of  sense  ?  For,  be  assured, 


320  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

a  sensible  woman  can  never  be  happy  with  a  fool.  What 
has  been  his  walk  in  life  ?  Is  he  a  gambler,  a  spendthrift, 
or  drunkard?  Is  his  fortune  sufficient  to  maintain  me  in 
the  manner  I  have  been  accustomed  to  live,  and  my  sisters 
do  live  •  and  is  he  one  to  whom  my  friends  can  have  no 
reasonable  objection  ?  If  these  interrogatories  can  be  sat 
isfactorily  answered,  there  will  remain  but  one  more  to  be 
asked ;  that,  however,  is  an  important  one  :  Have  I  suffi 
cient  ground  to  conclude  that  his  affections  are  engaged  by 
me  ?  Without  this  the  heart  of  sensibility  will  struggle 
against  a  passion  that  is  not  reciprocated — delicacy,  custom, 
or  call  it  by  what  epithet  you  will,  having  precluded  all  ad 
vances  on  your  part.  The  declaration,  without  the  most  in 
direct  invitation  of  yours,  must  proceed  from  the  man,  to  ren 
der  it  permanent  and  valuable,  and  nothing  short  of  good 
sense  and  an  easy,  unaffected  conduct  can  draw  the  line  be 
tween  prudery  and  coquetry.  It  would  be  no  great  de 
parture  from  truth  to  say  that  it  rarely  happens  otherwise 
than  that  a  thorough-paced  coquette  dies  in  celibacy,  as  a 
punishment  for  her  attempts  to  mislead  others,  by  encourag 
ing  looks,  words  or  actions,  given  for  no  other  purpose  than 
to  draw  men  on  to  make  overtures  that  they  may  be  reject 
ed.  ...  Every  blessing,  among  which  a  good  husband  when 
you  want  and  deserve  one,  is  bestowed  on  you  by  yours  af 
fectionately."^ 

Numerous  suitors  sought  the  heart  and  hand  of  beautiful 

*  Autograph  letter  of  Washington,  dated  "  Philadelphia,  January  16, 
1795."  He  wrote  many  other  familiar  letters  to  this  sprightly  foster- 
child,  but  they  have  been  lost  or  destroyed.  I  found  the  above  in  the 
possession  of  Mrs.  Mary  Custis  Lee,  of  Arlington  House,  a  great-grand 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Washington. 


NELLY    CUSTIS'S    SUITORS.  $21 

Nelly  Custis.  She  gave  them  both  to  Lawrence  Lewis,  a 
favorite  nephew  of  Washington  and  a  son  of  his  deceased 
and  much  loved  sister  Elizabeth.  Soon  after  his  retirement 
from  public  life,  Washington  invited  Lawrence  to  become  a 
permanent  resident  at.  Mount  Vernon,  for  much  company 
became  burdensome  to  the  master  and  mistress.  He  wrote 
to  his  nephew : 

"  As  both  your  aunt  and  I  are  on  the  decline  of  life  and 
regular  in  our  habits,  especially  in  our  hours  of  rising  and 
going  to  bed,  I  require  some  person  (fit  and  proper)  to  ease 
me  of  the  trouble  of  entertaining  company,  particularly 
of  nights,  as  it  is  my  inclination  to  retire  (and  unless  pre 
vented  by  very  particular  company,  I  always  do  retire)  ei 
ther  to  bed  or  to  my  study  soon  after  candle-light.  In  tak 
ing  these  duties  (which  hospitality  obliges  one  to  bestow  on 
company)  off  my  hands,  it  would  render  me  a  very  accept 
able  service." 

Lawrence  complied  with  the  request  of  his  uncle,  and  be 
came  one  of  the  family  at  Mount  Vernon  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1798.  He  was  then  a  tall,  finely  proportioned, 
and  handsome  young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  and  in  face 
and  figure  bore  a  striking  resemblance  to  his  illustrious  kins 
man.  Already  the  most  intimate  friendly  relations  existed 
between  him  and  Nelly  Custis.  These  now  soon  ripened  into 
a  mutual  tender  attachment,  which  gratified  Washington, 

Other  suitors  for  Nelly's  hand  appeared.  Among  these 
was  young  Carroll,  a  son  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton, 
who  had  just  returned  from  Europe,  possessed  of  all  the 
grace  and  refinement  of  manners  incident  to  a  thorough 
and  well  ordered  education  and  heightened  by  travel.  He 
was  heir  to  a  large  estate,  and  bore  an  unblemished  charac- 

21 


322  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

ter.  Mrs.  Washington  decidedly  encouraged  his  suit.  Nel 
ly's  brother,  at  school  at  Annapolis,  sympathized  with  his 
grandmother,  and  ventured  to  write  to  Washington  on  the 
subject,  saying : 

"  I  find  that  young  Mr.  C-  -  has  been  at  Mount  Ver- 
non,  and,  report  says,  to  address  my  sister.  It  may  be  well 
to  subjoin  an  opinion  which,  I  believe,  is  general  in  this 
place,  viz.,  that  he  is  a  young  man  of  the  strictest  probity 
and  morals,  discreet  without  closeness,  temperate  without  ex 
cess,  and  modest  without  vanity ;  possessed  of  those  amia 
ble  qualities  and  friendship  which  are  so  commendable,  and 
with  few  of  the  vices  of  the  age.  In  short,  I  think  it  a  most 
desirable  match,  and  wish  that  it  may  take  place  with  all 
my  heart." 

Washington,  who  as  decidedly  favored  the  suit  of  his 
nephew,  closed  abruptly  the  correspondence  with  young 
Custis  on  that  theme,  by  saying  in  a  letter : 

"  Young  Mr,  C—  —  came  here  about  a  fortnight  ago  to  din 
ner,  and  left  us  next  morning  after  breakfast.  If  his  object 
was  such  as  you  say  has  been  reported,  it  was  not  declared 
here ;  and  therefore  the  less  is  said  upon  the  subject,  par 
ticularly  by  your  sister's  friends,  the  more  prudent  it  will  be 
until  the  subject  develops  itself  more." 

Nelly's  heart  beat  in  unison  with  the  wishes  of  her  foster- 
father.  Suitor  after  suitor  was  rejected,  and  she  and  Law 
rence  Lewis  were  married  at  Mount  Vernon  on  Washington's 
birthday,  1799.  The  day  was  brilliant  with  unclouded  sun 
light,  and  the  air  was  as  balmy  as  the  most  genial  day  in 
May.  A  gay  and  joyous  company  were  assembled  at  Mount 
Vernon  on  that  occasion.  The  bride  was  "given  away"  by 
her  loving  foster-father.  The  nuptial  ceremonies  were  per- 


MARRIAGE    OF    MISS    CUSTIS.  323 

formed  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Davis,  rector  of  Christ  Church, 
Alexandria,  and  Washington  presented  to  him,  on  that  oc 
casion,  an  elegant  copy  of  Mrs.  Macaulay  Graham's  "  His 
tory  of  England,"*  in  eight  volumes,  saying,  "These,  sir, 
were  written  by  a  remarkable  lady,  who  visited  America 
many  years  ago ;  and  here  is  also  her  treatise  on  the  *  Im 
mortality  of  Moral  Truth,'  which  she  sent  me  just  before 
her  death — read  it  and  return  it  to  me." 

The  young  couple,  Lawrence  and  Nelly  Lewis,  resided  at 
Mount  Vernon  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Washington  in  1802. 


*  See  page  247. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE  long  and  eventful  period  of  the  sweet  earthly  compan 
ionship  enjoyed  by  Martha  Washington  with  her  husband 
was  now  drawing  to  a  close.  At  near  the  end  of  the  year 
in  which  the  happy  wedding  occurred  at  Mount  Vernon,  the 
spirit  of  Washington  departed  from  the  earth.  The  story 
of  that  departure  is  familiar  to  all  my  readers,  and  I  will  not 
repeat  it  here  in  detail. 

For  several  months  before  that  event  Washington  appears 
to  have  had  at  times  a  presentiment  of  near  approaching 
death.  In  July  he  executed  his  last  will  and  testament. 
He  also  prepared,  in  minute  detail,  a  system  for  the  man 
agement  of  his  estate,  for  the  guidance  of  whomsoever  might 
have  charge  of  it.  That  paper  was  completed  four  days  be 
fore  he  died,  and  was  accompanied  by  a  letter  to  his  mana 
ger,  Mr.  Lear,  giving  him  special  directions,  as  if  the  writer 
was  about  to  depart  on  a  long  journey.  He  seems  to  have 
communicated  his  forebodings  to  Mrs.  Washington,  who, 
early  in  the  autumn,  when  she  was  recovering  from  a  severe 
illness,  wrote  to  a  kinswoman  in  New  Kent : 

"  At  midsummer  the  General  had  a  dream  so  deeply  im 
pressed  on  his  mind  that  he  could  not  shake  it  off  for  sev 
eral  days.  He  dreamed  that  he  and  I  were  sitting  in  the 
summer-house,  conversing  upon  the  happy  life  we  had  spent, 
and  looking  forward  to  many  more  years  on  the  earth,  when 
suddenly  there  was  a  great  light  all  around  us,  and  then  an 


WASHINGTON  S    DEATH    PRESENTIMENT. 


325 


almost  invisible  figure  of  a  sweet  angel  stood  by  my  side  and 
whispered  in  my  ear.  I  suddenly  turned  pale  and  then  be 
gan  to  vanish  from  his  sight  and  he  was  left  alone.  I  had 
just  risen  from  the  bed  when  he  awoke  and  told  me  his 
dream,  saying,  'You  know  a  contrary  result  indicated  by 


SUMMER-HOUSE   AT   MOUNT   VERNON. 


dreams  may  be  expected.  I  may  soon  leave  you.'  I  tried 
to  drive  from  his  mind  the  sadness  that  had  taken  posses 
sion  of  it,  by  laughing  at  the  absurdity  of  being  disturbed 
by  an  idle  dream,  which,  at  the  worst,  indicated  that  I  would 
not  be  taken  from  him ;  but  I  could  not,  and  it  was  not  un 
til  after  dinner  that  he  recovered  any  cheerfulness.  I  found 


326 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 


in  the  library,  a  few  days  afterwards,  some  scraps  of  paper 
which  showed  that  he  had  been  writing  a  Will,  and  had 
copied  it.  When  I  was  so  very  sick,  lately,  I  thought  of 
this  dream,  and  concluded  my  time  had  come,  and  that  I 
should  be  taken  first."* 


CHRIST  CHURCH,   ALEXANDRIA. 


Washington  enjoyed  unusual  good  health  for  the  several 
months  which  preceded  his  death.  He  and  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  attended  divine  service  as  usual  at  Christ  Church,  at 
Alexandria,  after  her  recovery,  and  at  the  middle  of  Novem 
ber  they  received  an  invitation  to  attend  the  dancing  assem- 

*  Autograph  letter  at  Arlington  House,  dated  "  September  18,  I799-" 


DEATH    OF    WASHINGTON.  327 

blies  in  that  town,  as  they  had  frequently  done.     To  this  in 
vitation  Washington  replied  : 

"  MOUNT  VERNON,  12th  November,  1799. 

"  GENTLEMEN  :  Mrs.  Washington  and  myself  have  been 
honored  by  your  polite  invitation  to  the  Assemblies  at  Al 
exandria  this  winter,  and  thank  you  for  this  mark  of  atten 
tion.  But,  alas  !  our  dancing  days  are  no  more.  We  wish, 
however,  all  those  who  have  relish  for  so  agreeable  and  in 
nocent  amusement  all  the  pleasure  the  season  will  afford 
them." 

Just  a  month  from  the  date  of  this  note  Washington  rode 
over  his  farm  on  horseback  for  several  hours  in  a  storm  of 
sleet,  sat  down  to  dinner  without  removing  his  damp  cloth 
ing,  and  during  the  succeeding  night  suffered  a  violent  at 
tack  of  membranous  croup.  Physicians  came,  and  soon  so 
reduced  his  vital  powers  by  excessive  blood-letting  that  he 
had  not  sufficient  strength  left  to  resist  the  disease.  He 
died  from  the  effects  of  maltreatment  through  ignorance, 
at  near  midnight  on  December  14,  1799. 

At  the  moment  of  her  husband's  departure  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  was  sitting  near  the  foot  of  the  bed,  where  she  had 
been  a  constant  watcher  for  almost  twenty-four  hours.  Dr. 
Craik,  the  family  physician,  and  Mr.  Lear  stood  near  the 
head  of  the  bed,  and  several  house-servants  were  in  the 
room. 

"While  we  were  all  fixed  in  silent  grief,"  wrote  Mr.  Lear, 
"  Mrs.  Washington  asked,  with  a  firm  and  collected  voice, 
'  Is  he  gone?'  I  could  not  speak,  but  held  up  my  hand  as 
a  signal  that  he  was  no  more.  "Tis  well/  said  she,  in  the 
same  voice ;  '  all  is  now  over.  I  shall  soon  follow  him  ;  I 
have  no  more  trials  to  pass  through.'  " 


328  MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

So  sudden  was  the  attack  of  the  disease,  and  so  rapidly 
did  it  run  its  course,  that  Washington  died  before  some  of 
the  near  relatives  could  reach  the  chamber  where  he  lay 
while  he  yet  breathed.  Mr.  Lewis  and  Master  Custis  were 
at  the  "  White  House,"  in  New  Kent,  and  the  daughter-in- 
law  of  Mrs.  Washington,  Mrs.  Dr.  Stewart,  and  the  married 
granddaughters  of  the  bereaved  matron  were  not  notified 
in  time  to  reach  Mount  Vernon  before. all  was  over.  Nelly 
was  too  ill  at  the  time  to  leave  her  room  in  safety.  The 
solemn  funeral  service  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davis  on  the  iSth,  when 
the  body  was  laid  in  the  family  vault  with  Masonic  rites. 

Congress  was  in  session  in  Philadelphia  at  the  time  of 
Washington's  death,  and  rendered  appropriate  honors  to  his 
memory.  A  public  funeral  was  decreed,  at  which  Major 
Henry  Lee  pronounced  an  oration,  and  the  National  Legis 
lature  resolved  that  a  marble  monument  should  be  erected 
to  his  memory  by  the  United  States  at  the  National  Capi 
tal  (the  city  of  Washington),  so  designed  as  to  commemorate 
the  great  military  and  civil  events  of  his  life.  It  was  also 
resolved  to  request  his  family  to  permit  the  remains  of 
Washington  to  be  deposited  under  the  monument.  Like 
similar  memorials  authorized  by  Congress  during  the  war 
for  independence,  the  construction  of  this  monument  was 
indefinitely  deferred.  After  the  lapse  of  nearly  eighty-six 
years,  a  "  marble  monument  "  at  the  "  National  Capital,"  in 
honor  of  the  illustrious  citizen  who  was  "first  in  war,  first 
in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,"  was 
completed  at  the  beginning  of  1885.* 

*  The  monument  is  a  simple  grand  obelisk,  rising  five  hundred  and 


PUBLIC    HONORS    TO   THE    DECEASED.  329 

A  copy  of  the  resolves  of  Congress  was  sent  to  Mrs. 
Washington.  Letters  of  condolence  came  to  her  from  all 
parts  of  the  Republic  and  from  over  the  sea.  The  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  John  Adams,  and  his  wife  visited 

fifty-five  feet  above  the  ground.  It  stands  near  the  Potomac  River,  in 
the  city  of  Washington,  on  the  very  site  selected  by  the  great  patriot  for 
the  erection  of  a  monument  commemorative  of  the  American  Revolution. 
It  is  of  the  exact  proportions  of  the  Egyptian  obelisks,  but  instead  of  be 
ing  a  huge  monolith,  it  is  a  shaft  composed  of  layers  of  hewn  blocks  of 
marble.  Its  apex  is  aluminium.  This  monument  was  formally  dedicat 
ed  on  Washington's  birthday.  1885.  The  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop, 
who  was  the  orator  on  the  occasion  of  laying  the  corner-stone  about 
thirty-seven  years  before,  was  the  chosen  orator  on  the  late  occasion. 
Happily  did  he  say,  at  the  conclusion,  in  allusion  to  the  obelisk  and  to 
Washington  : 

"  The  storms  of  winter  must  blow  and  beat  upon  it.  The  action  of 
the  elements  must  soil  and  discolor  it.  The  lightnings  of  Heaven  may 
scar  and  blacken  it.  An  earthquake  may  shake  its  foundations.  Some 
mighty  tornado,  or  resistless  cyclone,  may  rend  its  massive  blocks  asun 
der  and  hurl  huge  fragments  to  the  ground.  But  the  character  which  it 
commemorates  and  illustrates  is  secure.  It  will  remain  unchanged  and 
unchangeable  in  all  its  consummate  purity  and  splendor,  and  will  more 
and  more  command  the  homage  of  succeeding  ages  in  all  regions  of  the 
earth.  God  be  praised,  that  character  is  ours  forever  !" 

The  earliest  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  Washington  was 
reared  on  the  highest  pinnacle  of  South  Mountain,  in  Maryland,  in  1809, 
by  tlie  inhabitants  of  Boonesboro'  and  the  neighboring  farmers.  They 
did  not  ask  aid  in  their  patriotic  undertaking  from  the  State  or  the  Na 
tional  Treasury,  but  contributed  the  funds  and  the  labor  themselves. 
The  farmers  hauled  the  stones  and  laid  the  foundation  of  unhewn  blocks 
of  sandstone,  and  upon  this  a  rude  pile  arose  which  at  this  day  is  a  land 
mark  for  the  country  scores  of  miles  around.  It  is  a  simple  cairn,  such 
as  patriotic  pagans  erected  in  honor  of  their  heroes.  What  more  than  an 
artistic  cairn  is  the  "pile  of  stones"  which  composes  the  grand  obelisk 
at  the  National  Capital  ? 


33°  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Mount  Vernon  to  condole  with  the  widow  of  the  departed 
patriot.  So  also  did  other  distinguished  citizens. 

Mrs.  Washington,  with  the  cheerful  resignation  of  a  trust 
ing  spirit  to  her  Master's  will,  and  an  unselfish  obedience  to 
duty  towards  the  living  as  well  as  the  dead,  maintained  the 
domestic  establishment  at  Mount  Vernon  on  the  same  scale 
of  generous  hospitality  which  prevailed  during  the  lifetime 
of  her  husband.  In  her  social  ministrations  and  deeds  of 
charity  she  was  assisted  by  her  accomplished  granddaughter, 
Nelly  Lewis,  whose  husband  and  Mr.  Lear  took  the  charge 
of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  estate  until  everything  was 
settled  in  accordance  with  the  will.  Mr.  Lewis  and  his  wife 
made  Mount  Vernon  their  home  until  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Washington,  when  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  Bushrod 
Washington,  a  nephew  of  the  general,  to  whom  it  had  been 
bequeathed  by  his  uncle. 

"  I  shall  soon  follow  him,"  said  Mrs.  Washington,  when 
her  husband  departed,  never  to  return.  This  prophecy  was 
fulfilled  about  two  years  and  a  half  afterwards.  Early  in 
the  month  of  May,  1802,  she  was  stricken  with  a  malignant 
bilious  fever,  which  baffled  the  skill  of  physicians  from  the 
outset.  She  was  then  seventy  years  of  age.  She  felt  satis 
fied  from  the  beginning  that  she  would  not  survive  the  at 
tack,  and  yet,  in  all  her  sufferings,  her  calm  cheerfulness 
did  not  forsake  her.  She  conversed  tenderly  with  her  grand 
children  concerning  the  faithful  performance  of  the  several 
duties  of  life  in  which  they  were  engaged,  of  the  happy  in 
fluences  of  the  Christian  religion  upon  the  affairs  of  the 
world,  and  of  the  consolations  of  the  Divine  promises  given 
to  every  believing  heart  in  every  emergency. 

In  the  presence  of  these  living  relations  and  two  or  three 


DEATH    OF    MRS.   WASHINGTON.  331 

house-servants,  the  spirit  of  Martha  Washington  left  its 
earthly  tabernacle  on  the  22d  of  May,  1802.  "To  those 
amiable  and  Christian  virtues  which  adorn  the  female  char 
acter,"  said  the  writer  of  an  obituary  notice  in  the  Port- 
Folio  of  June  5th,  ;'  she  added  dignity  of  manners,  superi 
ority  of  understanding,  a  mind  intelligent  and  elevated. 
The  silence  of  respectful  grief  is  our  best  eulogy." 

The  remains  of  Martha  Washington  were  placed  by  the 
side  of  those  of  her  husband,  in  the  old  family  vault  built 
by  Lawrence  Washington,  near  the  mansion  at  Mount  Ver- 
non.  There  they  rested  until  1837,  when  they  were  rein- 
terred  in  white  marble  coffins  and  placed  in  the  vestibule  of 
a  new  vault  which  had  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  a 
provision  of  the  will  of  Washington.*  These  coffins  were 
made  by  John  Struthers,  of  Philadelphia,  and  presented  by 
him  to  the  relatives  of  Washington  for  the  perpetual  preser 
vation  of  the  remains  of  the  illustrious  dead.  The  wooden 
coffins  which  covered  the  leaden  ones  that  contained  their 
ashes  had  been  twice  renewed. 

*  The  following  is  the  clause  :  "  The  family  vault  at  Mount  Vernon 
requiring  repairs,  and  being  improperly  situated  besides,  I  desire  that  a 
new  one  of  brick,  and  upon  a  larger  scale,  may  be  built  at  the  foot  of 
what  is  called  the  Vineyard  Enclosure,  on  the  ground  which  is  marked 
out,  in  which  my  remains,  and  those  of  my  deceased  relatives  (now  in 
the  old  vault),  and  such  others  of  my  family  as  may  choose  to  be  en 
tombed  there,  may  be  deposited." 

After  the  lapse  of  about  thirty  years  the  new  vault  was  built,  with  a 
small  vestibule.  Over  the  vault  are  the  words, 

"I  AM  THE  RESURRECTION  AND  THE  LIFE;  HE  THAT  BELIEVETH 
IN  ME,  THOUGH  HE  WERE  DEAD,  YET  SHALL  HE  LIVE." 

The  vestibule  was  too  small  to  give  a  proper  reception  to  the  marble 
coffins,  and  another  was  built.  The  whole  structure  is  in  bad  taste, 
and  impresses  every  visitor  most  unfavorably. 


332  MARTHA,   THE    WIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 

These  marble  coffins  are  so  placed  in  the  vestibule  of  the 
new  tomb  that  they  may  be  easily  seen  by  visitors  through 
an  open  picketed  iron  gate.  The  coffin  containing  the  re 
mains  of  Mrs.  Washington  is  perfectly  plain  ;  that  of  her 
husband  has  an  ornamented  lid,  on  which  is  a  sculptured 
representation  of  the  American  shield  hanging  over  the  flag 
of  the  Union.  The  latter  is  hung  in  festoons.  The  whole 
group  is  surmounted  by  an  eagle. 

Martha  Washington,  in  all  that  pertains  to  true  woman 
hood,  was  one  of  the  noblest  of  women.  As  a  daughter, 
wife,  mother,  and  friend  she  was  a  bright  exemplar.  As  an 
humble,  trusting  Christian,  an  earnest  patriot  and  an  unos 
tentatious  and  generous  philanthropist  she  was  beloved, 
honored,  and  blessed.  The  sum  of  her  excellence  may  be 
estimated  by  the  consideration  that  she  was  an  eminently 
worthy  life-companion  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious  men 
who  ever  trod  the  earth,  of  whom  Dr.  Franklin  wrote  in  his 
will  : 

"  My  fine  crab-tree  walking-stick,  with  a  gold  head  curi 
ously  wrought  in  the  form  of  a  cap  of  Liberty,  I  give  to  my 
friend,  and  the  friend  of  mankind,  George  Washington.  If 
it  were  a  sceptre,  he  has  merited  it  and  would  become  it." 

Of  him  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux  wrote : 

"  Let  it  be  repeated  that  Conde  was  intrepid,  Luzerne  was 
prudent,  Eugene  was  adroit,  Catinat  was  disinterested.  It 
is  not  thus  that  Washington  will  be  characterized.  It  will 
be  said  of  him,  at  the  end  of  a  long  civil  war  he  had  nothing  to 
reproach  himself.  .  .  .  Brave  without  temerity,  laborious  with 
out  ambition,  generous  without  prodigality,  noble  without 
pride,  virtuous  without  severity." 

To  Washington  Lord  Erskine  had  written  : 


NOBILITY   OF    WASHINGTON'S    CHARACTER.  333 

"  You  are  the  only  being  for  whom  I  have  an  awful  rever 
ence  !" 

The  great  Count  Herzburg  wrote  to  him  from  Berlin  : 

"  I  have  always  admired  your  great  virtues  and  qualities, 
your  disinterested  patriotism,  your  unshaken  courage  and 
simplicity  of  manners — qualifications  by  which  you  surpass 
men  even  the  most  celebrated  of  antiquity." 

Lord  Brougham  said : 

"  Until  time  shall  be  no  more  will  a  test  of  the  progress 
which  our  race  has  made  in  Wisdom  and  Virtue  be  derived 
from  the  veneration  paid  to  the  immortal  name  of  Wash 
ington  !" 

A  writer  in  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,"  said: 

"  Of  all  men  that  ever  lived,  he  was  the  greatest  of  good 
men  and  the  best  of  great  men." 

And  one  of  England's  greatest  poets  wrote  : 

"  Where  may  the  wearied  eye  repose 

When  gazing  on  the  great, 
Where  neither  guilty  glory  glows, 

Nor  despicable  State! 
,  Yes,  One — the  first,  the  last,  the  best, 
The  Cincinnatus  of  the  West, 

Whom  Envy  dared  not  hate — 
Bequeathed  the  name  of  Washington, 
To  make  men  blush  there  was  but  One!" 

The  prime-minister  of  England,  Mr.  Gladstone,  has  pro 
nounced  him  "  the  purest  figure  in  history,"  and  has  writ 
ten  that  "  if  among  all  the  pedestals  supplied  by  history  for 
public  characters  of  extraordinary  nobility  and  purity,  I  saw 
one  higher  than  all  the  rest,  and  if  I  were  required  at  a 
moment's  notice  to  name  the  fittest  occupant  for  it,  1  think 


334 


MARTHA,   THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


my  choice,  at  any  time  during  the  last  forty-five  years,  would 
have  lighted,  and  would  now  light,  on  Washington." 

The  latest  and  best  historian  of  England,  Mr.  Green, 
wrote  : 

"  No  nobler  figure  ever  stood  in  the  forefront  of  a  nations 

nfcy 

Such  was   the  man   for  whom  Martha  Washington  was 
worthy  to  be   a  wife,  a  counsellor,  and   a  friend.     I  have 
spoken  of  her  person.     Her  voice  was  sweet  and  musical, 
flowing  gently,  yet  rather 
quickly,   especially    when 
excited  by  any   emotion. 
Her  husband's  speech,  on 
the   contrary,  was    rather 
slow  and  deliberate,  sub 
dued   in   tone,  precise    in 
articulation,    and    always 
impressive. 

Several  portraits  of  Mrs. 
Washington  were  painted. 
Only  two  were  of  life  size, 
namely,  the  Woollaston 
portrait  (see  page  93) 
painted  when  she  was 

Mrs.  Custis,  and  a  head  by  Stuart,  now  belonging  to  the 
Boston  Athenaeum,  painted  when  she  was  beyond  sixty 
years  of  age.  Of  the  several  miniatures  of  her,  probably 
the  most  accurate  was  painted  by  Archibald  Robertson,  a 
Scotch  artist,  in  1792,  when  she  was  sixty  years  old.  It 
was  first  engraved  from  the  original  at  Arlington  House, 
about  the  year  1833,  for  the  "  American  Portrait  Gallery." 


SHADOW    PORTRAIT. 


LIKENESSES    OF    THE    GENERAL    AND    HIS    WIFE.         335 

From  that  miniature  as  a  likeness  Chappel  made  his  fine 
picture  of  Martha  Washington  for  Duyckinck's  "  Portrait 
Gallery  of  Eminent  Men  and  Women,"  published  by  Mr. 
Henry  Johnson,  who  kindly  permitted  the  artist  of  this  work 
to  copy  it  in  pen  and  ink.  James  Sharpless  made  a  profile 
of  her  in  colored  crayons  when  she  was  a  year  or  two  older, 
which  her  friends  declared  was  an  excellent  likeness. 

Not  long  before  Washington's  death,  shadow  portraits  in 
profile  of  the  general  and  his  wife  were  made  at  Mount 
Vernon.  These  were  undoubtedly  drawn  by  Mrs.  Washing 
ton's  clever  granddaughter,  Eleanor  Parke  Custis.  The 
profiles  were  cast  in  shadow  upon  a  wall  by  a  strong 
light,  and  were  traced  there  upon  paper.  They  were  in  the 
possession  of  Mrs.  Lewis  many  years,  when  they  were  pre 
sented  to  her  friend  Mrs.  Gibson.  On  the  back  of  each  is 
the  following  certificate  : 

"The  within  profiles  of  General  and   Mrs.  Washington 
were  taken  from  shadows  on  the  wall.     They  are  as  perfect 
likenesses  as  profiles  can  give.     Presented   to  me   by  my 
friend,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Parke  Lewis,  Woodland,  July,  1832. 
"ELIZABETH  BORDLEY  GIBSON.''" 

My  pleasant  task  is  done.  In  this  volume  I  have  en 
deavored  to  present  to  my  readers  an  outline  delineation  of 
all  that  is  known  of  the  character  and  life -career  of  the 


336 


MARTHA,  THE    WIFE    OF    WASHINGTON. 


Mother  and  the  Wife  of  Washington,  and  by  so  doing  I 
have  incidentally  unveiled  to  view  the  most  pleasing,  be 
cause  the  most  tender  and  lovable,  characteristics  of  the 
Beloved  Patriot. 


NELLY   CUSTIS'S    BOOK-MARK.      (See  note,  page  IOI.) 


APPENDIX. 


MARTHA    WASHINGTON    WILL. 

"  In  the  name  of  GOD,  Amen. 

"  I,  MARTHA  WASHINGTON,  of  Mount  Vernon,  in  the  county  of  Fair 
fax,  being  of  sound  mind  and  capable  of  disposing  of  my  worldly  estate, 
do  make,  ordain,  and  declare  this  to  be  my  last  Will  and  Testament, 
hereby  revoking  all  other  Wills  and  Testaments  by  me  heretofore  made. 

"Imprimis. — It  is  my  desire  that  all  my  just  debts  may  be  punctually 
paid,  and  that  as  speedily  as  the  same  can  be  done. 

"Item. — I  give  and  devise  to  my  nephew,  Bartholomew  Dandridge, 
and  his  heirs,  my  lot  in  the  town  of  Alexandria,  situate  on  Pitt  and 
Cameron  streets,  devised  to  me  by  my  late  husband,  George  Washing 
ton,  deceased. 

"Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  four  nieces,  Martha  W.  Dan 
dridge,  Mary  Dandridge,  Frances  Lucy  Dandridge,  and  Frances  Hen 
ley,  the  debt  of  two  thousand  pounds  due  from  Lawrence  Lewis  and 
secured  by  his  bond,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them  or  such  of 
them  as  shall  be  alive  at  my  death,  and  to  be  paid  to  them  respectively 
on  the  days  of  their  respective  marriage  or  arrival  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  whichsoever  shall  first  happen,  together  with  all  the  interest 
on  said  debt  remaining  unpaid  at  the  time  of  my  death;  and  in  case  the 
whole  or  any  part  of  said  principal  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds  shall 
be  paid  to  me  during  my  life,  then  it  is  my  will  that  so  much  money  be 
raised  out  of  my  estate  as  shall  be  equal  to  what  I  shall  have  received  of 
the  said  principal  debt,  and  distributed  among  my  four  nieces  aforesaid 
as  herein  has  been  bequeathed;  and  it  is  my  meaning  that  the  interest 
accruing  after  my  death,  on  the  said  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds  shall 
belong  to  my  said  nieces,  and  be  equally  divided  between  them,  or  such 
of  them  as  shall  be  alive  at  the  time  of  my  death,  and  be  paid  annually 
for  their  respective  uses,  until  they  receive  their  shares  of  the  principal. 

22 


338  APPENDIX. 

"Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  grandson,  George  Washington 
Parke  Custis,  all  the  silver  plate  of  every  kind  of  which  I  shall  die  pos 
sessed,  together  with  the  two  large  plated  coolers,  the  four  small  plated 
coolers,  with  bottle  castors,  and  a  pipe  of  wine,  if  there  be  one  in  the 
house  at  the  time  of  my  death;  also  the  sett  of  Cincinnati  tea  and  table 

china,  the  bowl  that  has  a  in  it,  the  fine  old  china  jars  which 

usually  stand  on  the  chimney-piece  in  the  new  room ;  also,  all  the  family 
pictures  of  every  sort,  and  the  pictures  painted  by  his  sister,  and  two 
small  screens,  worked  one  by  his  sister,  and  the  other  a  present  from 
Kitty  Brown  ;  also,  his  choice  of  prints  ;  also,  the  two  girandoles  and 
lustres  that  stand  on  them ;  also,  the  new  bedstead  which  I  caused  to  be 
made  in  Philadelphia,  together  with  the  bed,  mattresses,  bolsters,  and 
pillows,  and  the  white  dimity  curtains  belonging  thereto;  also,  two  other 
beds  with  bolsters  and  pillows,  and  the  white  dimity  window  curtains  in 
the  new  room ;  also,  the  iron  chest  and  the  desk  in  my  closet  which  be 
longed  to  my  first  husband ;  also,  all  my  books  of  every  kind  except  the 
large  Bible  and  Prayer-book;  also,  the  set  of  tea  china  that  was  given  me 
by  Mr.  Van  Braam,  every  piece  having  M.  W.  on  it. 

"  Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  grand-daughter,  Martha  Peter,  my 
writing  table  and  the  seat  to  it  standing  in  my  chamber;  also  the  print 
of  General  Washington  hanging  in  the  passage. 

"Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  grand-daughter,  Elizabeth  Parke 
Law,  the  dressing  table  and  glass  that  stands  in  the  chamber  called  the 
yellow  room,  and  General  Washington's  picture  painted  by  Trumbull. 

"Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  grand-daughter,  Eleanor  Parke 
Lewis,  the  large  looking-glass  in  the  front  parlor,  and  any  other  looking- 
glass  which  she  may  choose;  also,  one  of  the  new  side-board  tables  in  the 
new  room;  also,  twelve  chairs  with  green  bottoms,  to  be  selected  by  her 
self;  also,  the  marble  table  in  the  garret;  also,  the  two  prints  of  the  Dead 
Soldier,  a  print  of  the  Washington  Family  in  a  box  in  the  garret,  and  the 
great  chair  standing  in  my  chamber;  also,  all  the  plated  ware  not  hereto 
fore  otherwise  bequeathed;  also,  all  the  sheets,  table  linen,  napkins,  tow 
els,  pillow-cases  remaining  in  the  house  at  my  death;  also,  three  beds 
and  bedsteads,  curtains,  bolsters,  and  pillows  for  each  bed,  such  as  she 
shall  choose,  and  not  herein  particularly  bequeathed,  together  with  coun 
terpanes  and  a  pair  of  blankets  for  each  bed;  also,  all  the  wine-glasses 
and  decanters  of  every  kind ;  and  all  the  blue  and  white  china  in  common 
use. 

"Item. — It  is  my  will  and  desire  that  all  the  wine  bottles  in  the  vaults 
be  equally  divided  between  my  grand-daughters  and  grand-son,  to  each  of 
whom  I  bequeath  ten  guineas  to  buy  a  ring  for  each. 


APPENDIX.  339 

"Item.— It  is  my  will  and  desire  that  Anna  Maria  Washington,  the 
daughter  of  my  niece,  be  put  into  handsome  mourning  at  my  death,  at 
the  expense  of  my  estate,  and  I  bequeath  to  Her  ten  guineas  to  buy  a 
ring. 

"Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  neighbor,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wash 
ington,  five  guineas  to  get  something  in  remembrance  of  me. 

"  Item.— I  give  and  bequeath  to  Mrs.  David  Stuart  five  guineas  to  buy 
her  a  ring. 

"  Item.— I  give  and  bequeath  to  Benjamin  Lincoln  Lear  one  hundred 
pounds  specie,  to  be  vested  in  funded  stock  of  the  United  States,  imme 
diately  after  my  decease,  and  to  stand  in  his  name  as  his  property,  which 
investment  my  executors  are  to  cause  to  be  made. 

"  Item. — When  the  vestry  of  Truro  Parish  shall  buy  a  glebe,  I  devise, 
will  and  bequeath  that  my  executors  shall  pay  one  hundred  pounds  to 
them  in  aid  of  the  purchase,  provided  the  said  purchase  be  made  in  my 
life-time  or  within  three  years  after  my  decease. 

"Item. — It  is  my  wiU  and  desire  that  all  the  rest  and  residue  of  my 
estate,  of  whatever  kind  and  description,  not  herein  specifically  devised 
or  bequeathed,  shall  be  sold  by  the  executors  of  this  my  last  will  for 
ready  money,  as  soon  after  my  decease  as  the  same  can  be  done,  and 
that  the  proceeds  thereof,  together  with  all  the  money  in  the  house  and 
the  aebts  due  to  me  (the  debts  due  from  me  and  the  legacies  herein  be 
queathed  being  first  satisfied,)  shall  be  invested  by  my  executors  in  eight 
per  cent  stock  of  the  funds  of  the  United  States,  and  shall  stand  on  the 
Book  in  the  name  of  my  executors  in  their  character  of  executors  of  my 
will;  and  it  is  my  desire  that  the  interest  thereof  shall  be  applied  to  the 
education  of  Bartholomew  Henley  and  Samuel  Henley,  the  two  young 
est  sons  of  my  sister  Henley,  and  also  the  education  of  John  Dandridge, 
son  of  my  deceased  nephew,  John  Dandridge,  so  that  they  may  be  sev 
erally  fitted  and  accomplished  in  some  useful  trade;  and  to  each  of  them 
who  shall  have  lived  to  finish  his  education,  or  to  reach  the  age  of  twen 
ty-one  years,  I  give  and  bequeath  one  hundred  pounds  to  set  him  up  in 
his  trade. 

"Item.— My  debts  and  legacies  being  paid,  and  the  education  of  Bar 
tholomew  Henley,  Samuel  Henley  and  John  Dandridge,  aforesaid,  being 
completed,  or  they  being  all  dead  before  the  completion  thereof,  it  is  my 
will  and  desire  that  all  my  estates  and  interests  in  whatever  form  exist 
ing,  whether  in  money,  funded  stock,  or  any  other  species  of  property, 
shall  be  equally  divided  among  all  the  persons  hereinafter  named  who 
shall  be  living  at  the  time  that  the  interest  of  the  funded  stock  shall 
cease  to  be  applicable,  in  pursuance  of  my  will  hereinbefore  expressed, 


240  APPENDIX. 

to  the  education  of  my  nephews,  Bartholomew  Henley,  Samuel  Henley 
and  John  Dandridge  namely:  among  Anna  Maria  Washington,  daugh 
ter  of  my  niece,  and  John  Dandridge,  son  of  my  nephew,  and  all  my 
great  grand-children  living  at  the  time  that  the  interest  of  the  said  funded 
stock  shall  cease  to  be  applicable  to  the  education  of  the  said  B.  Henley, 
S.  Henley,  and  John  Dandridge,  and  the  interest  shall  cease  to  be  so  ap 
plied  when  all  of  them  shall  die  before  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and 
so  long  as  any  one  of  the  three  lives  who  has  not  finished  his  education 
or  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  the  division  of  the  said  residue 
is  to  be  defered,  and  no  longer. 

"  Lastly.— I  nominate  and  appoint  my  grandson,  George  Washington 
Parke  Custis,  my  nephews,  Julius  B.  Dandridge  and  Bartholomew  Dan 
dridge,  and  my  son-in-law,  Thomas  Peter,  executors  of  this  my  last  Will 
and  Testament. 

"  In  witness  whereoff  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  twen 
ty-second  day  of  September,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred. 

"  MARTHA  WASHINGTON.     [Seal.] 

"Sealed,  signed,  acknowledged  and  delivered  as  her  last  Will  and 
Testament  in  the  presence  of  the  subscribing  witnesses,  who  have  been 
requested  to  subscribe  the  same,  as  such,  in  her  presence. 

"ROGER  FARRELL, 
"WILLIAM  SPENCER, 
"  LAWRENCE  LEWIS, 
"  MARTHA  PETER. 
"  March  4,  1802. 

"  I  give  to  my  grand-son,  George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  my  mu 
latto  man  Elish,  that  I  bought  of  Mr.  Butler  Washington,  to  him  and 
his  heirs  forever.  ^  ^  WASHINGTON  " 


INDEX. 


A. 

Adams,  John,  inaugurated  second  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  309. 

Adams,  Samuel,  patriotic  spirit  of,  mani 
fested,  130. 

Allen,  Ethan,  captures  Fort  Ticonderoga, 
«3*« 

American  army,  disposition  of  the,  177,  185, 
186,  195. 

American  finances,  wretched  condition  of, 
177. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  treason  of,  197. 

Articles  of  Confederation,  244. 

B. 

Bache,  Mrs.  Sarah,  and  workers  for  the  sol 
diers,  200. 

Ball  family,  the,  in  Virginia,  6. 

Ball,  John,  the  "  crazy  preacher,"  i  ;  career 
of,  2  ;  ditties  of,  4  ;  death  of,  5. 

Ball,  John,  of  Woodstock,  6. 

Ball,  Joseph,  married  and  settled  in  Eng 
land—return  of,  to  Virginia— his  daughter 
Mary  born,  7  ;  a  well-to-do  planter,  8. 

Ball,  Joseph,  brother  of  Mary,  the  mother 
of  Washington — educated  and  settled  in 
England,  7  ;  letter  of.  to  his  sister,  Mary 
Washington,  concerning  her  son  entering 
the  navy,  40. 

Ball,  Mary,  birth  of,  7  ;  early  life  of,  8 ;  let 
ter  of— defective  education  of,  9  ;  person 
al  appearance  of— allusions  to,  n  ;  por 
trait  of,  alluded  to,  14,  24 ;  marriage  of, 
to  Augustine  Washington  alluded  to,  21 ; 
the  painter  of  her  portrait,  25,  26. 

Ball,  Col.  William,  in  the  Civil  War  in  Eng 
land,  6  ;  settled  in  Virginia,  7. 

Ball,  William,  a  surveyor  in  Virginia,  7. 


Banquet  given  to  President  and  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  at  Philadelphia,  309,  310. 

Bassett,  Colonel,  address  of,  at  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stone  of  Mary  Washing 
ton's  monument,  72. 

Billy,  Washington's  favorite  body-servant, 
66  (note), 

Bishop,  Thomas,  Colonel  Washington's 
body-servant,  95  ;  greets  Washington  and 
his  wife  on  their  return  to  Mount  Ver- 
non,  227. 

Bland,  Mary  ("  Lowland  Beauty  "),  Wash 
ington's  first  love,  96. 

Boston,  port  of,  closed  to  commerce,  128. 

Boston,  siege  of,  146-148, ;  evacuation  of, 
by  the  British,  148. 

Boston  Tea  Party,  the,  127. 

Botetourt,  Governor,  120  j  death  of,  121. 

Braddock,  General,  bequeaths  bis  horse  to 
Colonel  Washington,  95. 

Bragaw,  Bergen,  178. 

Brewster,  Anna,  and  Mrs.  Washington,  204; 
acrostic  on  the  name  of,  205. 

Brienne,  Marchioness  de,  at  Mount  Vernon, 
249 ;  astonished  at  domestic  life  there — 
begins  a  miniature  portrait  of  Washing 
ton,  250;  paints  miniature  portraits  of 
Washington  and  Lafayette  in  medallion 
form,  251. 

Brissot  de  Warville,  and  his  visit  to  Mount 
Vernon,  251. 

British  standard  presented  to  Washington, 
212  (note). 

Byrd,  Col.  William,  of  Westover,  marries 
Lucy  Parke,  84 ;  his  daughter  Evelyn,  86. 

C. 

Calvert,  Benedict,  125 ;  marriage  of  his 
daughter  to  John  Parke  Cus'tis,  126. 


342 


INDEX. 


Cave  Castle,  seat  of  the  ancestors  of  the 
Virginia  Washingtons,  20. 

Chamberlayne,  Col.  William,  94 ;  the  young 
widow  Custis  at  his  house,  95  ;  hospitali 
ty  of,  95,  96. 

Champlain,  Lake,  British  forts  on,  captured, 
.46. 

Chapman,  J.  G.,  and  portrait  of  Mary  Ball, 
i5- 

Chastellux,  Marquis  de,  at  Philadelphia- 
speaks  of  Mrs.  Washington,  zro;  at  head 
quarters  at  Newburgh,  218;  letter  of 
Washington  to,  252  (note). 

Chimney-piece  presented  to  Washington, 
240-242. 

Christmas  at  Mount  Vernon  in  1783,  227. 

Cincinnati,  Society  of  the,  formed,  220 
(note] ;  elegant  and  costly  Order  of  the 
Society  of  the,  presented  to  Washington 
by  public  officers,  253. 

Clergy  of  Virginia,  character  of  the.  89. 

Clinton,  George,  letter  of  Washington  to, 
on  the  latter 's  retirement,  231. 

Constitution,  the  National,  framed  and  rati 
fied,  256. 

Constitutional  Convention,  Washington 
President  of  the,  255. 

Continental  Army,  the,  adopted  by  Con 
gress —  Washington  chosen  commander 
of  the,  132  ;  disbandment  of  the,  220. 

Continental  Congress,  128;  State  Papers 
issued  by  the,  129. 

Continental  money  counterfeited,  186,  187. 

Cookham,  England,  Washington  and  Ball 
families  at,  16. 

Cornwallis,  surrender  of,  at  Yorktown,  210- 
213. 

Custis,  Daniel  Parke,  rejects  Evelyn  Byrd, 
86;  wrath  of  the  father  of,  who  disinher 
its  him  but  relents— enamoured  of  Manha 
Dandridge— obtains  his  father's  consent 
to  marry  her,  87 ;  notice  of  consent — 
estate  of,  88 ;  marriage  of,  with  Martha 
Dandridge,  90 ,  a  favorite  of  Governor 
Dinwiddie,  91 ;  death  of,  92. 

Custis,  Widow  Eleanor,  marries  Dr.  Stuart, 
225. 

Custis,  Elizabeth  Parke,  portrait  of,  painted 
by  Pine,  245. 

Custis,  G  W.  P.,  portrait  of,  painted  by 
Pine,  245  ;  erects  a  memorial  stone  on  the 


spot  where  Washington  was  born,  30 ;  his 
"Recollections  of  Washington,"  63  (note}. 

Custis,  Col.  John,  marries  Frances  Parke, 
84,85;  love  letter  of,  85;  unhappy  wedded 
life  of,  85,  86 ;  inscription  on  the  tomb 
stone  of,  86. 

Custis,  John  Parke,  son  of  Martha  Wash 
ington,  123;  desires  to  travel,  124;  in 
love  with  Eleanor  Calvert,  125;  mar 
riage  of,  126  ;  estate  and  children  of,  127  : 
he  and  his  wife  accompany  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  to  Cambridge,  137 ;  his  family  at 
Mount  Airy,  Abingdon,  and  Mount  Ver 
non,  154;  accompanies  Washington  to 
Yorktown,  209  ;  death  of,  211. 

Custis,  Martha,  watch  of,  90,  91 ;  widow, 
estate  and  children  of,  94 ;  meets  Col. 
George  Washington— mutually  pleased, 
96  ;  marries  Colonel  Washington — wed 
ding-dress  of,  ioi  ;  guests  and  scenes  at 
her  second  marriage,  102  ;  an  old  serv 
ant's  recollections  of  it,  103. 

Custis,  Nelly,  or  Eleanor,  Parke,  315  ;  stud 
ies  of,  316;  beauty  and  truthfulness  of, 
317;  account  of  domestic  life  at  Mount 
Vernon— first  ball  of,  318;  suitors,  and 
marriage  of,  to  Lawrence  Lewis,  321,  322. 

D. 

Dandridge,  Col.  John,  83  ;  family  of,  84. 
Dandridge,  Martha,  person  and  character 

of— reigning  belle  at  the  Virginia  colo 
nial  court,  84. 
"Dark     Lady,"    the,    Mrs.  Washington's 

daughter,  121  ;  death  of  the,  122  ;  picture 

of  the,  by  Peale,  125. 
Darrah,  Lydia,  frustrates  a  design  to  attack 

Washington's  camp,  162. 
Dinwiddie,  Robert,  sketch  of,  46. 
Dunmore,  Governor  Lord,  threatens  Mount 

Vernon,  136,  156. 

E. 

England,  laboring  classes  in,  3. 
Evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  British, 

1783,  225. 
Events,  prominent,  in   the   history  of  the 

Republic  in  1776,  159. 


Fairfax,    Lord    Thomas,    at    "  Greenway 
Court  "  —  an  inveterate  fox -hunter,  42  ; 


INDEX. 


343 


young  Washington  becomes  a  favorite  of 
— death  of,  43. 

Field,  George,  an  English  writer—  portrait 
of  Mary  Ball  in  his  possession,  14;  be 
queaths  the  portrait  to  George  Harvey, 
an  artist,  16 ;  notice  of,  24. 

Ford,  Jacob,  Washington's  head- quarters 
at  the  home  of  the  widow  of,  at  Morris- 
town,  1 88. 

Ford,  Judge,  entertains  the  author  at  Wash 
ington's  head-quarters  at  Morristown— 
relates  an  anecdote  of  Colonel  Hamilton 
and  Miss  Schuyler,  195. 

France,  the  alliance  with,  celebrated  at  the 
camp  near  Newburgh,  and  release  of 
prisoners,  220 ;  war  with  United  States, 
3'2,  313- 

Fredericksburg,  the  home  of  Mary  Wash 
ington,  56  ;  American  and  French  officers 
at,  in  1781,  61 ;  military  ball  at,  62 ;  fu 
neral  of  Mary  Washington  at,  70 ;  monu 
ment  to  her  memory  at,  76. 

French  alliance,  anniversary  of,  celebrated 
by  the  army  near  Middlebrook,  180. 

French  and  Indian  War  begun— Washing 
ton  engaged  in  the,  48 ;  land  and  naval 
forces  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  197. 

French  officers  present  costly  presents  to 
General  and  Mrs.  Washington,  253. 

French  Revolution,  influence  of,  in  the 
United  States,  300,  301. 

French  troops  on  the  Hudson  River,  218. 

Froissart,  Sir  John,  and  John  Ball,  i. 

G. 

Gerard,  M.,  French  minister  at  head-quar 
ters  at  Middlebrook,  184. 

Government,  National,  the  place  of  its  per 
manent  residence  discussed  and  deter 
mined,  291,  292  ;  removal  of,  to  Phila 
delphia  —  dissatisfaction  because  of  the 
removal  of  the,  292. 

Graham,  Catharine  Macaulay,  a  guest  at 
Mount  Vernon  —  insulted  by  Dr.  John 
son,  247. 

Green,  Rev.  Ashbel,  gives  an  account  of  a 
public  dinner  at  President  Washington's 
house,  308. 

Grieve,  George,  translator  of  De  Chastel- 
lux's  "Tour  in  the  United  States,"  on 
Mrs.  Washington,  201  (note). 


H. 

Hamilton,  Col.  Alexander,  and  Miss  Schuy 
ler,  195 ;  withdrawal  of,  from  Washing 
ton's  military  family,  207  ;  and  Schuyler, 
political  correspondence  between,  de 
stroyed,  278  (note) ;  illness  of,  303. 

Hamilton,  Mrs.  Alexander,  on  Washing- 
ington's  dancing,  64 ;  letter  of  Mrs. 
Washington  to,  302. 

Harrison,  Benjamin,  and  Mrs.  Washington 
at  Philadelphia,  140. 

Harvey,  George,  and  the  portrait  of  Mary 
Ball,  14;  visits  Cookham,  England,  16. 

"  Hasbrouck  House,"  the,  Washington's 
head-quarters  at  Newburgh,  214. 

Head-quarters,  cultivation  of  a  social  spirit 
at,  182,  183  ;  dinners  at,  182. 

Henry,  Patrick,  at  Mount  Vernon,  129. 

Hickey,  a  Lifeguardsman,  attempts  to  poi 
son  Washington,  157;  hanged,  158. 

Houdon,  M.,  sculptor,  at  Mount  Vernon, 
246  ,  statue  of  Washington  by,  247. 

Hounds  at  Mount  Vernon,  240. 

Howe,  General,  arrives  before  New  York 
with  British  troops,  158. 

Humphreys,  Col.  David,  accompanies 
Washington  to  Mount  Vernon,  227;  also 
to  New  York,  258. 


Inauguration  ball  at  New  York  in  1789— 
persons  at  the,  260 ;  disappointment  be 
cause  of  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Washing 
ton  at  the,  262. 

Indians,  Seneca,  incursion  of,  into  Virginia, 
20. 

J- 

Jackson,  President,  assaulted  by  a  ruffian 
at  Alexandria,  73  (note} ;  at  the  laying  of 
the  corner-stone  of  the  monument  in 
memory  of  Mary  Washington,  75. 

Jack  Straw  and  John  Ball,  5. 


Knapp,  Uzal,  one  of  Washington's  Life 
guard,  describes  a  Christmas  dinner  at 
head-quarters,  202-204  ;  and  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  203  ;  death  of,  206. 

Knox,  General  Henry,  145  ;  letter  of  Wash- 


344 


INDEX. 


ington  to,  on  the  pleasure  of  private  life, 
256. 
Knox,  Lucy,  and  Mrs.  Washington,  45. 


Lafayette,  George  Washington,  the  ward 
of  Washington,  305 ;  at  Mount  Vernon 
— return  of,  to  France,  311- 

Lafayette,  Marchioness  de,  invited  to 
Mount  Vernon,  232,  233;  presents  Ma 
sonic  regalia  to  Washington,  253. 

Lafayette,  Marquis  de,  visits  the  mother  of 
Washington,  64  ;  receives  her  blessing, 
65  ;  letter  of  Washington  to,  on  the  re 
tirement  of  the  latter,  231  ;  visits  Mount 
Vernon,  233 ;  family  of,  239 ;  introduces 
friends  to  the-  family  at  Mount  Vernon, 
249;  presents  Maltese  asses  to  Washing 
ton,  253  ;  in  prison,  with  his  family — 
sends  his  son  George  to  the  care  of  Wash 
ington,  305. 

Lear,  Tobias,  at  Mount  Vernon,  241. 

Lee,  Henry,  young  Washington's  letter  to 
— marries  Mary  Bland,  97. 

Lees,  the,  in  Westmoreland  County,  Vir 
ginia,  27. 

Lexington  and  Concord,  bloodshed  at,  131. 

Lewis,  Elizabeth  (Betty),  sister  of  Wash 
ington,  45. 

Lewis,  Col.  Fielding,  marries  Washington's 
sister  Elizabeth  —  "  Kenmore  House," 
and  residence  of,  45  ;  death  of,  46. 

Lewis,  Lawrence,  Washington's  nephew, 
invited  to  Mount  Vernon,  321  ;  marries 
Nelly  Custis,  322  ;  resides  at  Mount  Ver 
non,  323. 

Lifeguard,  Washington's,  157  (note]. 

Livingston,  Gov.  William,  entertains  Mrs. 
Washington  and  friends  at  "Liberty 
Hall,"  267,  295. 

Luzerne,  Chevalier  de,  French  minister,  at 
Morristown — a  ball  given  in  honor  of, 
196. 

M. 

Marbois,  M.  de,  and  head-quarters  at  New- 
burgh,  214. 

Marshall.  Christopher,  gives  an  account  of 
a  proposed  ball  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  in  Philadelphia,  139,  140. 

Mason,'George,  and  non-importation  agree 


ments,  120  ;  concerning  Mrs.  Washing 
ton's  courage,  137. 

Memorial  stone  at  the  birthplace  of  Wash 
ington,  30,  31. 

Middlebrook,  head -quarters  at  —  Mrs. 
Washington  at,  178;  anniversary  of  the 
alliance  with  France  celebrated  at,  180; 
mild  winter  at,  184 ;  picturesque  review 
at,  185. 

Military  operations  in  1776,  186;  also  in 
1780,  197. 

Miralles,  Don  Juan,  at  head  -  quarters  at 
Middlebrook,  184;  and  at  Morristown  — 
death  and  funeral  of,  196. 

"Mischianza"  at  Philadelphia,  175. 

Monmouth  Court-house,  battle  at  —  the 
British  army  steal  away  in  darkness,  176. 

Montgomery  and  Greene,  widows  of,  how 
received  by  President  Washington,  271. 

Monument  to  the  memory  of  the  mother 
of  Washington — condition  of  the.  76,  77. 

Morer,  Mrs.  Ann,  on  the  birthplace  of 
Washington,  23. 

Morris,  Mrs.  Robert,  entertains  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  265 ;  accompanies  her  to  New 
York,  266 

Morris,  Robert,  caricatured,  292. 

Morris,  Roger,  marries  Mary  Phillipse,  97. 

Morristown,  Washington's  head  -  quarters 
at,  1 88;  Mrs.  Washington's  arrival  at, 
and  residence  there,  189-197  ;  encamp 
ment  near,  sufferings  at,  in  the  Lifeguard, 
191,  192  ;  night  alarms  at,  192  ;  General 
Schuyler  and  family  at,  194  ;  life  at  head 
quarters  at,  194-196. 

Morse,  Prof.  S.  F.  B.,  and  Mary  Ball's  por 
trait,  13. 

Mossum,  Rev.  David,  rector  of  St.  Peter's 
Church,  Kent — domestic  infelicities  of-r 
trouble  with  his  clerk,  89  ;  marries  Mar 
tha  Dandridge  to  Daniel  Parke  Custis, 
90  ;  and  to  George  Washington,  101. 

Mount  Vernon  bequeathed  to  George  Wash 
ington,  45  ;  description  of,  105  ;  old  man 
sion  at,  106;  life  at,  iu-n6;  ornamenta 
tion  of  mansion  at — plaster  portraits,  1 1 1 ; 
social  life  at,  disturbed  by  public  events 
— distinguished  visitors  at,  120  ;  alarm  at, 
I36>  137)  2.°6 :  threatened  with  desola 
tion,  206,  207  ;  a  joyous  Christmas  at, 
227-229  ;  guests  at — enlargement  of  man- 


INDEX. 


345 


sion  at,  234;  the  mansion  and  grounds 
at,  236-238 ;  French  hounds  at — purchase 
of,  by  the  women  of  the  United  States, 
239  (note). 

Moustier,  Count  de,  French  minister,  visits 
Mount  Vernon,  249. 

Muhlenberg,  General,  anecdote  of,  273. 

N. 

National  Government,  new  model  of  a,  pro 
posed  and  adopted,  254,  255. 

Newburgh,  Washington's  head-quarters  at, 
213  ;  arrival  of  Mrs.  Washington  at,  215  ; 
mutinous  movements  suggested  at,  219. 

New  Windsor,  Washington's  head-quarters 
at — Christmas  dinner  at,  201,  202. 

New  York,  political  antagonism  at — Mrs. 
Washington  avoids,  141,  142  ;  evacuated 
by  British  troops,  225 ;  society  at,  281  ; 
disappointment  at,  because  of  the  ab 
sence  of  Mrs.  Washington  and  the  ill 
ness  of  the  President,  281. 

Nicholas,  Robert  Carter,  94. 

P. 

Pendleton,  Edmund,  at  Mount  Vernon,  129. 

Philadelphia,  commotion  at,  on  account  of 
Mrs.  Washington's  reception  at,  138 ; 
condition  of  British  army  in — a  brilliant 
fete  at — flight  of  the  British  from — Tories 
fly  from,  175  ;  made  the  seat  of  the  Na 
tional  Government,  292  ;  theatre  at,  300. 

Phillipse,  Mary,  and  Colonel  Washington, 

97- 

Pine,  Robert  E.,  portrait-painter,  at  Mount 
Vernon,  245. 

Pluckemin,  the  "Temple"  or  "Academy 
in  the  Park"  at — banquet  in  the  "Tem 
ple"  at,  181. 

Pohich  Church,  attendance  of  the  Wash 
ington  family  at,  117. 

Presidential  etiquette.  274  ;  Dr.  Stuart  con 
cerning,  274  (note} ;  Jefferson  concerning, 
274  (note) ;  Washington  concerning,  275, 
276. 

President's  house  in  New  York,  263,  289 ; 
in  Philadelphia,  296 ;  first  levee  in  the, 
at  Philadelphia,  297. 

"President's  March,"  the  (air  now  "  Hail 
Columbia"),  composed  by  Fayles,  and 
first  performed,  283. 


R. 

Richard,  King,  promises  and  perfidy  of,  5. 
Rochambeau,  Count  de,  at  head-quarters  at 
Newburgh,  218. 

S. 

Saint  Peter's  Church  at  New  Kent,  89. 

Schools,  early,  in  Virginia,  8. 

Schuyler  and  Hamilton,  political  corre 
spondence  between,  destroyed,  278  (note). 

Sevres  porcelain  sets  presented  to  General 
and  Mrs.  Washington  by  French  officers, 
_253- 

Sigourney,  Mrs.,  poem  of,  on  Mary  Wash 
ington,  76. 

Stewart,  Col.  Charles,  189. 

Stone,  W.  L.,  description  of  the  inaugura 
tion  ball  in  New  York  by,  261. 

Stuart,  Dr.  David,  and  Mrs.  Custis,  224, 
225;  on  Presidential  etiquette,  274. 


"Temple,"  the,  at  Pluckemin,  181,  182. 

Thacher,  Dr.,  at  dinner  at  head-quarters — 
description  by,  of  the  personal  appear 
ance  of  Washington  and  his  wife,  183. 

Theatre  in  New  York,  attendance  of  Pres 
ident  and  Mrs.  Washington  at,  282 ; 
"President's  March"  (air  now  "Hail 
Columbia")  composed  for  the  orchestra 
of  the,  283. 

Thomson,  Charles,  at  Mount  Vernon,  64 ; 
bears  official  message  to  Washington — 
warm  reception  of,  by  Mrs.  Washington, 
257 ;  accompanies  Washington  to  New 
York,  258. 

Tomb,  the,  at  Mount  Vernon,  331. 

Treaty  of  peace,  preliminary,  220. 

Tryon,  Gov.  William,  author  of  a  plot  to 
assassinate  Washington,  157. 

Tyler,  Wat,  and  John  Ball,  5. 

V. 

Valley  Forge,  encampment  and  sufferings 
at,  167-171 ;  Washington's  head-quarters 
at,  171  ;  Mrs.  Washington  at,  165-174  ; 
rejoicings  at,  173. 

Vaughan,  Samuel,  presents  a  chimney-piece 
for  the  mansion  at  Mount  Vernon,  240 ; 
visits  Mount  Vernon,  249. 


346 


INDEX. 


W. 


Wallace,  Mrs.  Susan,  and  Mrs.  Washing 
ton,  298. 

Wansey,  Henry,  at  the  President's  home 
in  Philadelphia,  298. 

Warren,  Mercy,  describes  her  visit  to  Mrs. 
Washington  and  Mrs.  Custis,  150;  last 
ing  friendship  of,  with  Mrs.  Washington, 
151  ;  reply  of,  to  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  281. 

Washington,  Augustine,  father  of  George 
Washington,  in  England,  17  ;  marries 
Mary  Ball,  21,  22;  home  plantation  of, 
27;  new  home,.  29  ;  death  of,  31  ;  dispo 
sition  of  estate  of,  32. 

Washington  and  Ball  families,  22. 

Washington,  Bushrod,  inherits  Mount  Ver- 
non,  15. 

Washington  family,  genealogy  of  the,  18  ; 
first  appearance  of  members  of,  in  Vir 
ginia—  coat-of-arms  of,  19. 

Washington,  George,  record  of  his  birth  in 
his  mother's  Bible,  23  ;  doubts  about  the 
birthplace  of,  23 ;  parents  of,  married  in 
England,  24 :  birthplace  of,  destroyed, 
28 ;  new  home  on  the  Rappahannock, 
29 ;  first  school-teacher  of,  29 ;  brothers 
and  sisters  of,  30  ;  conduct  of,  towards  his 
mother,  33  ;  rides  an  untamed  colt,  36 ; 
at  Mount  Vernon  and  Belvoir,  38;  wishes 
to  enter  the  British  navy,  39 ;  disap 
pointed,  40  ;  a  favorite  of  Lord  Fairfax — 
becomes  a  land  surveyor,  43  ;  in  charge 
of  a  military  district — goes  to  Barbadoes 
with  his  half-brother — has  the  small-pox 
and  returns,  44 ;  sent  on  a  perilous  mis 
sion,  46  ;  in  Braddock's  military  family — 
in  battle  of  Monongahela,  49  ;  letters  to 
his  mother  and  brother,  50,  51  ;  patriot 
ism  of — elected  to  the  Virginia  House  of 
Burgesses,  53,  100 ;  first  meets  Martha 
Custis — charmed  by  her,  96 ;  early  love 
of,  for  Mary  Bland,  96 ;  admiration  of, 
for  Mary  Phillipse,  97 ;  betrothed  to  Mar 
tha  Custis  —  letter  to  her  from  camp — 
takes  Fort  Duquesne,  100  ;  marries  Mar 
tha  Custis,  101  ;  guardian  of  his  wife's 
children  and  estate,  104 ;  personal  ap 
pearance  of,  105  ;  orders  of,  for  domestic 
supplies  from  England  as  a  bachelor  and 


«i  husband,  106-109;  as  a  sportsman,  112, 
113  ;  appearance  of,  on  the  road— names 
of  his  horses  and  hounds — his  equipage, 
116;  habits  of,  118;  presents  an  impor 
tant  paper  to  the  House  of  Burgesses, 
120 ;  member  of  the  Continental  Con 
gress,  128;  disciplines  independent  mili 
tary  companies,  130 ;  a  member  of  the 
Virginia  Convention  of  1775,  131 ;  made 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Continental 
Army — takes  command  of  the  Continen 
tal  Army — letter  to  his  wife,  132 ;  con 
ducts  the  siege  of  Boston,  146-148;  leaves 
Boston,  148;  head-quarters  at  New  York, 
153  ;  plot  to  kill  or  capture,  157,  158  ;  at 
Whitemarsh,  161  ;  at  Valley  Forge,  165- 
174;  at  Middlebrook,  178-185;  at  Mor- 
ristown,  188-197  ;  at  New  Windsor,  201— 
207  ;  visits  Mount  Vernon  unexpectedly, 
208 ;  receives  guests  there— departs  for 
Yorktown,  239;  at  the  deathbed  of  John 
Parke  Custis,  and  adopts  two  of  his  chil 
dren,  211  ;  in  Philadelphia  —  presented 
with  British  colors,  212;  at  Newburgh, 
213-220;  releases  all  military  prisoners, 
220 ;  with  Governor  Clinton  in  the  inte 
rior  of  New  York  State— at  Rocky  Hill 
— equestrian  statue  of,  voted  by  Congress, 
22 1 ;  letter  of,  on  matrimonial  affairs,  224 ; 
final  parting  with  his  officers,  225  ;  re 
signs  his  commission,  226  ;  accompanies 
Mrs.  Washington  to  Mount  Vernon  — 
journey  thither,  227  ;  escort  of,  from  An 
napolis  to  Mount  Vernon,  228  ;  letter  of, 
to  Governor  Clinton  and  Lafayette,  231  ; 
to  the  Marchioness  de  Lafayette,  233 ; 
enlarges  his  house,  234-236 ;  submits  to 
the  taking  of  plaster  casts  from  his  face, 
246 ;  President  of  the  Constitutional  Con 
vention  —  Chancellor  of  the  College  of 
William  and  Mary,  255  (note) ;  chosen 
President  of  the  United  States,  256  ;  let 
ter  of,  to  General  Knox,  256  ;  journey  of, 
to  New  York,  258,  259;  inauguration  of, 
259  ;  table  habits  of,  268  ;  appearance  and 
methods  of,  at  public  levees,  271,  272  ;  ti 
tle  for,  proposed,  273  ;  visits  the  Eastern 
States,  284-287  ;  his  English  coach,  287, 
288;  final  disposition  of  coach  of,  288 
(note) ',  visits  Newport,  293  ;  departure 
from  New  York,  294 ;  journey  to  Phila- 


INDFX. 


347 


delphia,  295  ;  meets  commissioners  for 
laying  out  the  District  of  Columbia  at 
Georgetown  — Southern  tour  of,  299,  300; 
retires  to  private  life,  303,  310  ;  abused  by 
political  antagonists,  304  ;  birthday  cele 
bration  of,  in  Philadelphia,  307  ;  gives  a 
farewell  dinner,  307,  308 ;  at  the  inaugu 
ration  of  President  Adams,  309  ;  at  home, 
314;  letter  of,  on  love,  319,  320;  dream 
of,  323  ;  invited  to  dancing  assemblies  — 
death  of,  327;  entombment  of,  331. 

Washington,  John,  and  invading  Indians, 
20;  commands  Virginian  forces,  21. 

Washington,  Lawrence,  son  of  John,  21. 

Washington,  Lawrence,  of  Mount  Vernon 
— his  military  career,  34 ;  marries  Anne1 
Fairfax.  35;  goes  to  Barbadoes— returns 
and  dies,  44. 

Washington,  Lawrence,  of  Chotank,  on  the 
mother  of  Washington,  33. 

Washington,  Lund,  letter  about  alarm  on 
the  Potomac,  149  ;  rebuked  by  Washing 
ton,  207. 

Washington,  Martha,  the  wife  of  George 
Washington,  and  her  children,  104 ;  at 
the  Virginia  capital  with  her  husband, 
105  ;  at  Mount  Vernon — daily  life  of,  1 17; 
piety  and  benevolence  of— her  beautiful 
daughter,  "the  dark  lady,"  119;  patriot 
ic  spirit  of,  128,  129  ;  letter  from  the  hus 
band  of,  132  ;  tenor  of  life  of,  at  Mount 
Vernon,  134;  invited  to  Cambridge,  135  ; 
alarm  of,  at  Mount  Vernon,  136,  137  ;  de 
parts  for  Cambridge,  137;  honors  ten 
dered  to,  at  Philadelphia,  138;  prudent 
conduct  of,  139,  140 ;  departure  of,  from 
Philadelphia  — avoids  New  York,  141  ; 
journey  of,  to  Cambridge,  142,  143;  social 
position  of,  144;  and  Lucy  Knox,  145; 
tarries  at  Cambridge,  149;  visited  by 
Mercy  Warren,  150;  receives  Phillis 
Wheatley,  a  learned  slave,  152;  leaves 
Cambridge  for  New  York — at  head-quar 
ters  at  New  York,  153  ;  inoculated  for 
small-pox  —  goes  to  Philadelphia,  154; 
alarmed  by  news  from  the  Chesapeake, 
155  ;  also  from  New  York,  156  ;  letter  of, 
to  her  sister,  158;  arrival  of,  at  White- 
marsh,  162 ;  rides  on  horseback  to  Val 
ley  Forge,  165  ;  at  head-quarters  at  Val 
ley  Forge,  166;  care  of  soldiers  at  Valley 


Forge,  168-171 ;  participates  in  rejoicings 
there,  174  ;  arrival  of,  at  head-quarters  at 
Middlebrook,  178;  work  done  for,  179  ; 
a  ball  given  in  honor  of— participates  in 
a  celebration  there,  180;  description  of  a 
review — returns  to  Mount  Vernon,  185 ; 
journey  of,  to  Morristown— visits  Martha 
Wilson,  189 ;  visited  by  Morristown  la 
dies,  192, 193  ;  works  for  the  soldiers,  193 ; 
nurses  Don  Juan  Miralles,  196;  aids  an 
association  of  women  at  Philadelphia  in 
providing  garments  for  soldiers,  199;  gift 
for  the  soldiers,  200 ;  at  New  Windsor, 
201  ;  life  of,  at  New  Windsor,  206;  re 
turns  to  Mount  Vernon,  208  ;  at  New- 
burgh,  215;  letter  concerning  pardoned 
prisoners,  220 ;  illness  of,  at  Newburgh, 
221  ;  adieu  to  camp-life,  222  ;  gardening 
at  Newburgh,  223;  at  Annapolis,  226; 
journeys  home  with  her  husband,  227  ; 
Christmas  gifts  to  her  servants,  228  ;  her 
grandchildren,  232  (note) ;  coveted  repose 
not  realized,  234  ;  correspondence  with 
the  Marchioness  de  Lafayette,  239 ;  an 
noyed  by  hounds  at  Mount  Vernon— a 
pleasant  gift,  240 ;  entertains  Samuel 
Vaughan,  248  ;  entertains  distinguished 
guests,  249-251  ;  a  present  from  French 
officers  of  Sevres  porcelain,  253  ;  patriot 
ic  impulses  of,  255 ;  receives  Secretary 
Thomson,  257 ;  did  not  accompany  her 
husband  to  New  York,  260 ;  lingers  at 
Mount  Vernon,  263  ;  journey  to  New 
York— at  Baltimore,  264  ;  escort  to  Phil 
adelphia  and  reception  there,  265  ;  leaves 
Philadelphia,  266 ;  a  guest  at  Liberty 
Hall — reception  at  New  York — furnishes 
ornaments  for  the  President's  home,  268 ; 
formal  calls  upon — public  receptions  by, 
269;  character  of  receptions  of — meth 
ods  at,  270  ;  reception  of  ladies,  272  ;  re 
straints  of  life  at  New  York,  277  ;  letter 
of,  to  Mercy  Warren,  277-281  ;  corre 
spondence  of,  with  husband  of,  de 
stroyed,  278  (note) ;  New-year's-day  re 
ception,  288,  289  ;  private  life  of,  in  New 
York.  290,  291  ;  tenderness  towards  vet 
eran  soldiers,  291  ;  her  first  levee  in  Phil 
adelphia,  297  ;  entertains  an  English  trav 
eller  at  breakfast — intercourse  with  her 
neighbors,  298 ;  judicious  reticence  of,  on 


348 


INDEX. 


public  affairs,  301 ;  letter  of,  to  Mrs.  Ham 
ilton,  302 ;  devotion  of,  to  her  husband, 
303  ;  letter  of,  to  Mrs.  Knox — a  notable 
Virginia  house-wife,  314;  descriptions  of 
Washington's  dream,  324;  worships  at 
Alexandria,  326;  at  her  husband's  death 
bed,  327;  continues  the  hospitalities  of 
Mount  Vemon  —  her  last  illness,  330; 
death  of  Martha  Washington— entomb 
ment  at  Mount  Vernon,  331;  character 
of,  332  ;  portraits  of,  334,  335. 
Washington,  Mary,  the  mother  of  George 
Washington,  letter  of,  10;  in  her  new 
home  —  step -sons  of,  27;  children  of — 
home  of,  burned,  28 ;  death  of  husband 
of,  31 ;  character  of,  3 1-33 ;  her  son  George 
and  her  favorite  colt,  38  ;  reluctantly  con 
sents  to  allow  George  to  enter  the  British 
navy — letter  of  her  brother  on  the  sub 
ject,  39  ;  death  of  her  step-son  Lawrence, 
44  ;  anxiety  about  George  when  on  a  per 
ilous  mission,  47 ;  also  while  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War,  49-54 ;  happiness  be 
cause  of  the  marriage  of  George — mar 
riage  of  the  other  children  of,  55  ;  remov-" 
al  of,  to  Fredericksburg  -home  of,  there, 
56-58  ;  foolish  fictions  of,  concerning,  57  ; 
indirect  communication  with  George  in 
the  army — reply  of,  to  words  of  praise  of 
George,  58  ;  daily  life  of,  59  ;  a  strict  dis 
ciplinarian—independence  of— secret  de 
votions  of,  60  ;  fear  of  lightning  of — vis 
ited  by  George  after  the  surrender  of 
Cornwallis,  61 ;  attends  a  military  ball 


with  George,  63  ;  visited  by  Lafayette, 
64,  65  ;  her  son  George's  last  visit  to  her 
before  his  inauguration  as  President  of 
the  United  States— the  parting  scene,  67; 
personal  appearance  of,  67,  68  ;  death  of 
— letter  of  her  son  concerning  death  of, 
69 ;  funeral  of,  70  ;  grave  of.  71  ;  monu 
ment  to  the  memory  of,  72  ;  proceedings 
at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the 
monument  of,  73  ;  corner-stone  of,  laid,  75, 
76  ;  monument  of,  erected  and  neglected, 

77-  78. 

Washington,  Sir  Henry,  in  the  Civil  War 
in  England,  19. 

Washington,  Sir  William,  married  the  half 
sister  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  19. 

Washington's  slave,  the  author's  interview 
with.  2  10  (note). 

Weeping  willows,  how  introduced  into  the 
United  States,  151  (note). 

West  Point,  a  notab\ef£te  at.  215,  218. 

Wheatley,  Phillis,  visits  Mrs.  Washington 
— poetry  and  correspondence  of,  152. 

White  House,  the,  86,  94. 

Whitemarsh,  encampment  at,  Washing 
ton's  head -quarters  at,  161  ;  arrival  of 
Mrs.  Washington  at,  162. 

Wilson,  Mrs.  Martha,  a  friend  of  Mrs. 
Washington,  189,  190;  daughter  of,  en 
tertained  by  Mrs.  Washington — her  dress 
described,  190. 

Wright,  Joseph,  takes  a  plaster  cast  from 
Washington's  living  face,  246  (note). 


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meaning  of  these  terms.  Let  him  learn  of  Mr.  Higginson. —  The  Beacon, 
Boston. 

Mr.  Higginson's  purpose  has  been  to  tell  the  story  of  the  growth  of 
the  American  nation  in  manner  to  express  all  of  the  natural  attractive 
ness  of  the  controlling  incidents  of  its  progress,  and  secure  that  appreci 
ative  interest  in  them  which  is  accorded  to  what  elsewhere  readers  value 
and  enjoy.  .  .  .  He  has  written  a  history  of  the  United  States  that  all  will 
agree  can  be  read  more  pleasurably  than  any. — Boston  Globe. 

It  is  the  best  single  volume  popular  history  of  the  United  States  pub 
lished. — Christian  Register,  Boston. 

Mr.  Higginson  brings  fresh  aims,  high  motives,  a  charming  style,  and 
the  gift  of  making  his  theme  constantly  delightful  to  the  task  of  telling 
the  story  of  the  growth  of  a  great  country  in  the  wilds  of  America.  A 
patriotic  and  hopeful  spirit  breathes  through  all  his  pages,  and  gives  to 
them  power  of  inspiring  enthusiasm. — Critic,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Higginson  has  enriched  his  work  with  personal  incident  and  anec 
dote,  and  made  it  glow  with  the  latent  humor  of  his  style.  ...  It  is  popu 
lar  in  the  best  sense  of  containing  the  essence  of  the  subject  in  a  form 
that  is  easily  intelligible  and  sure  to  be  attractive  to  general  readers. — 
Independent,  N.  Y. 

An  entertaining  and  really  useful  book,  which  fills  a  place  not  occupied 
by  any  of  the  narratives  of  more  extended  scope  and  higher  pretensions. 
.  .  .  There  is  in  it  so  much  novelty  and  animation,  and  it  is  so  lavishly 
embellished  with  authentic  portraits  and  realistic  illustrations,  that  even 
the  novel-reader  will  take  it  up  without  misgiving  and  turn  over  its  pages 
with  avidity. — N.  Y.  Sun. 

A  book  of  absorbing  interest.  .  .  .  The  style  is  lucid,  pictorial,  easy  in 
its  movement,  as  indicating  the  author's  full  command  of  his  resources 
and  of  himself. —  The  Watchman,  Boston. 


PUBLISHED  BY  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  NEW  YORK. 

The  above  -work  sent  by  mail,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United  States 
or  Cantidn,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  History  of  the  United  States.  First  Series. — From  the 
First  Settlement  of  the  Country  to  the  Adoption  of  the 
Federal  Constitution.  Second  Series. — From  the  Adop 
tion  of  the  Federal  Constitution  to  the  End  of  the  Six 
teenth  Congress.  By  RICHARD  HILDRETH.  6  vols.,  8vo, 
Cloth,  with  Paper  Labels,  Uncut  Edges,  and  Gilt  Tops, 
$12  oo  ;  Sheep,  $15  oo ;  Half  Calf,  $25  50.  (Sold  only 
in  Sets.) 

The  history  of  the  Revolution  is  clearly  and  succinctly  told. — North 
American.  Review1. 

Mr.  Hildreth's  sources  of  information  have  evidently  been  ample  and 
various,  and  intelligently  examined,  his  materials  arranged  with  a  just 
idea  of  their  importance  in  the  story,  while  his  judgments  are  well  con 
sidered,  unbiassed,  and  reliable.  His  style  is  clear,  forcible,  and  senten 
tious. — Christian  Register,  Boston. 

We  value  it  on  account  of  its  impartiality.  We  have  found  nothing  to 
indicate  the  least  desire  on  the  part  of  the  author  to  exalt  or  debase  any 
man  or  any  party.  His  very  patriotism,  though  high-principled  and  sin 
cere,  is  sober  a'nd  discriminate,  and  appears  to  be  held  in  strong  check 
by  the  controlling  recollection  that  he  is  writing  for  posterity,  and  that  if 
the  facts  which  he  publishes  will  not  honor  his  country  and  his  country 
men,  fulsome  adulation  will  not  add  to  their  glory. — N.  Y.  Commercial 
Advertiser. 

The  author's  grouping  of  men  and  events  is  skilful,  and  renders  his 
rapid  narrative  pleasant  reading. —  'N.  Y.  Evening  Post. 

It  occupies  a  space  which  has  not  yet  been  filled,  and  exhibits  charac 
teristics  both  of  design  and  of  composition  which  entitle  it  to  a  distin 
guished  place  among  the  most  important  productions  of  American  genius 
and  scholarship.  We  welcome  it  as  a  simple,  faithful,  lucid,  and  elegant 
narrative  of  the  great  events  of  American  history.  It  is  not  written  in 
illustration  of  any  favorite  theory,  it  is  not  the  expression  of  any  ideal 
system,  but  an  honest  endeavor  to  present  the  facts  in  question  in  the 
pure,  uncolored  light  of  truth  and  reality.  The  impartiality,  good  judg 
ment,  penetration,  and  diligent  research  of  the  author  are  conspicuous  in 
its  composition. — N.  Y.  Tribune. 

His  work  fills  a  want,  and  is  therefore  most  welcome.  Its  positive 
merits,  in  addition  to  those  we  have  before  mentioned,  are  impartiality, 
steadiness  of  view,  clear  appreciation  of  character,  and,  in  point  of  style, 
a  terseness  and  conciseness  not  unlike  Tacitus,  with  not  a  little,  too,  of 
Tacitean  vigor  of  thought,  stern  sense  of  justice,  sharp  irony,  and  pro 
found  wisdom. — Methodist  Quarterly  Revieiv. 


PUBLISHED  BY  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  NEW  YORK. 

The  above  -work  sent  by  mail,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United  States 
or  Canada,  on  receipt  of  th^  price. 


ENGLISH  COLONIES  IN  AMERICA. 

A  Short  History  of  the  English  Colonies  in  America.     By 
HENRY  CABOT  LODGE.     8vo,  Half  Leather,  $3  oo. 

Opening  this  bodk,  the  reader  will  at  once  be  attracted  to  the  beautiful, 
clear  print,  which  is  such  a  luxury  when  the  eye  is  dim  or  weary.  .  .* .  It 
is  a  compact  and  comprehensive  statement  of  facts  of  the  men  and  times, 
pleasantly  and  methodically  told.  The  arrangement  is  most  admirable. 
Each  colony  has  its  separate  history,  so  clear  in  outline,  and  the  connec 
tion  each  has  with  the  other  colonies  so  distinctly  stated,  as  to  make  no 
unnecessary  repetition. — Chicago  Inter-Ocean. 

A  sterling  historical  work.  .  .  .  Mr.  Lodge  is  the  first  competent  hand 
to  seize  upon  the  abundant  materials,  and  work  up  one  moderate-sized, 
readable  volume.  His  style  is  clear  and  graphic,  and  he  paints  pictures 
of  the  old  times,  attractive  or  repulsive,  according  to  the  truth  as  he  finds 
it.  He  writes  without  apparent. prejudice,  and  tries  to  do  justice  to  all 
sections  and  peoples,  with  their  widely  differing  social  institutions  and 
political  creeds. — N.  Y.  Journal  of  Commerce. 

This  "  Short  History,"  it  may  safely  be  predicted,  will  become  a  stan 
dard  work.  It  certainly  ranks  with  Mr.  Green's  "  Short  History  of  the 
English  People,"  and  the  author  has  earned  the  thanks  of  the  large  and 
constantly  increasing  class  of  intelligent  students  of  American  history 
who  desire,  in  addition  to  a  well-digested  compendium  of  information,  in 
dications  as  to  the  sources  from  which  that  information  is  derived.  The 
book  may  be  recommended  as  in  all  substantial  respects  better  worthy 
of  the  attention  of  serious  and  intelligent  readers  than  any  similar  piece 
of  work  yet  attempted  on  either  side  of  the  Atlantic. — N.  Y.  World. 

Mr.  Lodge  evinces  throughout  his  interesting  volume  the  spirit  of  pa 
tient  and  thorough  investigation,  realizing  that  the  full  and  adequate  pos 
session  of  the  facts  in  the  case  leads  almost  infallibly  to  correct  inference, 
while  an  imperfect  acquaintance  with  them  will  betray  even  the  ablest 
intellects  into  absurd  and  pernicious  error.  A  volume  like  this  is  an  ex 
cellent  antidote  for  that  haste  in  reaching  conclusions,  and  that  ignorance 
in  clinging  to  them,  which  through  all  time  has  resulted  in  delusion,  big 
otry,  and  contention,  and  has  proved  an  immense  impediment  to  substan 
tial  progress. — N.  Y.  Times. 

It  is  a  successful  attempt  to  answer  in  a  compact  and  comprehensive 
form  the  questions  of  who  and  what  were  the  people  who  fought  the  war 
for  independence  and  founded  the  United  States,  and  what  their  life,  hab 
its,  thought,  and  manners.  This  scope,  it  will  be  seen,  takes  in  all  politi 
cal  and  personal  issues.  This  narrajtive  is  interesting  throughout,  and  an 
invaluable  service  has  been  rendered  each  of  the  original  States.  Only 
warm  commendation  can  be  offered  such  a  painstaking  task. — Boston 
Com  monwealth. 


PUBLISHED  BY  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  NEW  YORK. 

Jt£f  The  above  work  sent  by  wail,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United  States 
or  Canada,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


j_ij.x>  JVAJV  x 


BERKELEY 

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